JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Darren Smith equaled a USL Championship single-game record with five goals as he led Detroit City FC to a 6-2 victory against Sporting Club Jacksonville on Saturday night at Hodges Stadium, with Kobe Hernandez-Foster also notching a goal and assist for the visitors.

After a two-hour weather delay, Jacksonville took the lead in the ninth minute when Emil Jääskeläinen headed home a corner kick from the left at the back post, but the visitors quickly hit back as Smith notched his first goal of the night four minutes later as he tapped home the rebound after a shot by Ben Morris was only parried. Smith added his second of the night in the 26th minute when he broke onto a through-ball by Morris and rounded the goalkeeper before finishing into an empty net and then completed his hat trick in first-half stoppage time with a volleyed finish.

The South African forward picked up where he left off 12 minutes into the second half as he turned home a low cross by Tabort Etaka Preston before Jacksonville hit back through Kieran Sadlier’s first-time strike from the top of the penalty area with 21 minutes to go. Smith completed his five-goal night in the 81st minute, however, as Hernandez-Foster stole possession in the Sporting JAX half before setting up a first-time finish, and the midfield playmaker capped the scoring in the second minute of stoppage time with a brilliant free kick to the top-right corner of the net from 25 yards.

Takeaways

Sporting Club Jacksonville – The hosts’ back line was exposed again, giving up a season-high six goals as they were unable to capitalize on taking an early lead. Jacksonville is now winless in its first 13 league contests and has given up 34 goals, leaving Head Coach Liam Fox with plenty to try and figure out.

Detroit City FC – Le Rouge claimed their first road win of the season in spectacular fashion as Darren Smith had a game for the ages. His five goals equaled the single-season record set by Mauricio Salles in the 2013 season for VSI Tampa Bay FC, and launched the South African into the lead for the Golden Boot with 11 goals this season.