Sounders pin a 6-2 thrashing on Crew

Lamar Neagle scored his first career hat trick as the host Seattle Sounders trounced the Columbus Crew, 6-2, in Major League Soccer action on Saturday afternoon.

Neagle tallied twice during a four-goal first half for the Sounders (13-5-9) and completed the hat trick in the 70th minute, when a shot from the top of the penalty area bounced off the crossbar and dropped behind the goal line.

Seattle's offensive outburst overshadowed a record-breaking day for Columbus' Jeff Cunningham. The Crew forward became the leading goal-scorer in MLS history when he converted a penalty kick in the 59th minute. That was his 134th goal, eclipsing the previous mark set by Jaime Moreno in a 15-year league career, 14 of which were spent with D.C. United.

Columbus (11-8-7) had a two-game winning streak snapped.

Premier League. In London, Juan Mata scored in his Chelsea debut to complete a 3-1 victory over Norwich in a match overshadowed by teammate Didier Drogba's being knocked unconscious.

The striker landed in sickening fashion after an aerial challenge with Canaries keeper John Ruddy. Medics raced onto the field to treat the stricken 33-year-old, with the game stopped for seven minutes while he was loaded onto a stretcher and carried off wearing what appeared to be a breathing aid.

While the Ivory Coast striker was taken to the hospital, Chelsea said he only had a "mild concussion" and would be released on Saturday night.

Elsewhere, Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam scored their first goals for Liverpool in a 3-1 victory over Bolton, while Franco Di Santo scored twice as host Wigan beat Queens Park Rangers, 2-0.

Mikel Arteta's penalty gave Everton a 1-0 win at Blackburn, which failed to score from two penalties against U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard.

La Liga. Roberto Soldado scored a hat trick - with two goals coming in the final minutes - to rally Valencia to a 4-3 win over Racing Santander on the opening day of the strike-delayed Spanish league.

Elsewhere, Granada played its first topflight game in 35 years, losing, 1-0, to fellow promoted club Real Betis.

Bundesliga. Mario Gomez converted two penalties in his hat trick to give Bayern Munich a 3-0 win over host Kaiserslautern, leaving his side provisionally on top of the German league.

Canadian international Kevin McKenna scored an 88th-minute winner - three minutes after going on a substitute - as Cologne twice came from behind to win, 4-3, at Hamburg.

Eto'o scores in debut. Former Barcelona and Inter Milan star Samuel Eto'o scored in his Russian league debut for Anzhi Makhachkala in a 1-1 draw with host FC Rostov.

The 30-year-old Cameroon star signed a three-year contract reportedly worth $28.8 million per season Tuesday.