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Nigerian Striker Gift Orban Just Scored Fastest Hat-trick in UEFA Club Competitions

Gent’s Gift Emmanuel Orban celebrates after scoring during a soccer game between Turkish Istanbul Basaksehir FK and Belgian KAA Gent in Istanbul, Turkey, in the round of 16 of the UEFA Europa Conference League. Photo: AFP

Gift Orban scored his second consecutive hat-trick to assist KAA Gent defeat Istanbul Basaksehir 4-1 away, advancing his club to the UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-finals.

Gent of the Belgian Jupiler Pro League made a remarkable performance to upset Turkey’s Basaksehir 5-2 on aggregate and go to the European Conference League last-eight.

Gent’s victory was thanks to the extraordinary Orban, who performed a masterclass in front of goal on Wednesday evening at the Başakşehir Fatih Terim Stadium.

Orban stole the show, scoring three goals in three minutes, the first coming in the 31st minute on a brilliantly placed left-footed shot that gave the Basaksehir goalie no chance.

Only a minute later, the kid added a potential goal of the week before completing out his hat trick with another fine effort in the danger zone.

Hugo Cuypers scored Gent’s fourth goal in the 37th minute. Basaksehir did get a late consolation goal through former Manchester United midfielder Adnan Januzaj, but it was too little, too late, as the game was over.

Orban has now scored eleven goals in his previous seven games, and the official UEFA Europa Conference League congratulated him on Twitter, adding, “3 minutes and 25 seconds. Gift Orban had the quickest hat-trick in UEFA club competitions.”

Meanwhile, Orban scored four goals to help Gent defeat Zulte Waregem 6-2 at the Elindus Arena on Sunday night in Belgian First Division A.

The Nigerian striker had never scored a hat-trick in his professional career before his trip to Zulte Waregem. The 20-year-old scored four goals in a 30-minute span in the second half.

He scored his first goal of the game in the 53rd minute, his brace in the 68th minute, his first career hat-trick in the 75th minute, and the game-winning goal in the 83rd minute.

Orban has been in excellent form since joining Gent from Norwegian club Stabaek Fotbal in January for €3.3 million, scoring twelve goals in nine appearances across all competitions.

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