Who Can Stop Eddie Johnson?

How does one silence his critics? Kansas City Wizards forward Eddie Johnson has become the first player in MLS history to record hat tricks in back-to-back games as he powered his club to a 3-2 victory over Eastern Conference rivals New York. All of Johnson's goals came in the second half.

In his last two games, EJ has scored more goals (6) than the defending MLS champion Houston Dynamo have scored all season (5). Johnson will now be expected to continue that fine form for the U.S. MNT - he is on the roster for the upcoming Gold Cup.

Juan Pablo Angel is also earning his keep in MLS. He got the scoring started for the Red Bulls in the eighth minute with a sliding volley past Kevin Hartman, making it 1-0. It was Angel's fourth goal in league play since joining the Red Bulls in early May.

But Kansas City did not give up and continued to put the pressure on Red Bulls keeper Jon Conway. After a Clint Mathis red card for violent conduct in the 36th minute gave the Wizards an advantage, Eddie Johnson lit up the scoreboard for three goals (46', 59', 85') in the second half and carried the Wizards to victory, despite a late goal from Dema Kovalenko.

Notes: Kansas City out-shot New York 24-3, with Eddie Johnson scoring one goal for every shot that New York took. Johnson now leads the league in goal-scoring with nine. Red Bulls captain Claudio Reyna returned from injury and looked healthy, playing the entire 90 minutes. Clint Mathis' red card in the 36th minute means he won't be available for New York's road game in Toronto this coming Wednesday.

With the win, Kansas City moves to 6-2-1 (19 points), tops in the league. The Wizards are off until June 16th when they travel to New York to try to make it two-in-a-row over the Red Bulls.

New York's first loss on the road this season leaves them at 5-2-2 (17 points), two behind the Wizards and one behind the New England Revolution. The Red Bulls head to Toronto for a mid-week match on Wednesday.