SEATTLE, Washington (CMC) — A record-breaking goal from Jamaica-born forward Jeff Cunningham was the only bright spot for the Columbus Crew when the Seattle Sounders lived up their name, soundly beating them 6-2 on Saturday in Major League Soccer.

The 35-year-old Cunningham, a 14-year veteran of the MLS, became a second-half substitute and converted a 59th-minute penalty kick for his 134th career goal, eclipsing Jaime Moreno’s all-time mark.

Cunningham got his chance after a foul on Emilio Rentería, cutting the deficit to 4-1, but celebrations were short-lived as the Sounders continued to attack, and gave the Crew a sound whipping.

“(The Crew organisation) have been very supportive,” he told MLSsoccer.com. “I couldn’t have done it without them.”

“There was a good chance I was going to have surgery this week with the problems with my knee. It was a question at one point if I could continue with my season.”

Cunningham has been sidelined since July 23 because of inflammation in his right knee and the team doctors told him two weeks ago that he had to consider arthroscopic surgery if there was no improvement.

But Rentería drew a dubious penalty in the 58th minute when he appeared to go down untouched, and referee Baldomero Toledo pointed to the spot.

Cunningham slotted the ball to the left of diving goalkeeper Kasey Keller to put his name in the record books.

“I’m excited about it,” he said. “It’s very difficult to score goals in this league. I don’t really mind that it was a penalty kick. A goal’s a goal.

“You ask any of the best players in the world if they would take it, and the short answer I’m sure would be, ‘yes’. It’s no different for me.

He added: “It was not the type of game I wanted to set the record, but at the same time it took a lot of hard work. I was very grateful for the opportunity to get into the game.”

“I didn’t think it would take this long into the season, but I feel very proud, and humbled right now. To have the goal-scoring record is an honour. It’s been 14 years of hard work, and some ups and downs.”

Lamar Neagle landed a hat-trick as the Sounders turned a four-goal, first-half blitz into an exclamation point.

Mauro Rosales, Mike Fucito and a Josh Gardner own-goal accounted for the rest of the scoring for Seattle, who picked up three points on the idle LA Galaxy. Gardner scored Columbus’ other goal on a second-half free kick.