Fresh from hitting four goals last weekend for Gent in their 6-2 win over Zulte Waregem, 20 year old Nigerian forward Gift Orban struck a first half hattrick to fire his team past Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir in the Europa Conference League.
Gent were too good for the Turkish side thrashing them 4-1 at their backyard with their Nigerian forward stealing the show once again much to the light of his coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck.
Orban struck his hattrick within a space of three minutes scoring in the 31st, 32nd and 34th minute to hand his team a 3-0 lead before his strike partner Hugo Cuypers ensured they go into the break leading 4-0.
The game at the Başakşehir Fatih Terim Stadium was over as a contest with the Belgium side having a healthy 6-1 aggregate score after drawing the first leg 1-1 at home. The win ensured their spot in the quarter final of the tournament.
Signed in January Orban has now hit double digit goals with 12 goal in just nine games. He has five in four games in the Europa Conference League and seven in five league games.
His transfer fee of around €3m is slowly looking like the bargain of the year with his club now demanding for a fee in the region of €50m in light of interest from top European teams who have been alerted to his exploits.
Mohammed Mowiz
