LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) Ademola Lookman’s sensational hat-trick gave Atalanta their first-ever UEFA Europa League title.
Atalanta thrashed Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 to win the trophy in Dublin, Ireland.
The Nigerian striker made history as he becomes the first player to score a hat-trick in Europa League final. He also helped Atalanta to win their first continental trophy in 49 years.
In the process, the 26-year-old Super Eagles striker ended the 51-game unbeaten run of Bayer Leverkusen.
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Atalanta opened the scoring 12 minutes into the match. Davide Zappacosta fed the ball through to Lookman, who picked up the pass inside the box and quickly sent it into the left side of the goal.
He then doubled his team’s advantage on 26 minutes with another strike, before he pulled the trigger from inside the box in the 75th minute to seal a sensational hat-trick.
He was named Man of the Match and his entire team mobbed him immediately the final whistle went.
In the second half, Leverkusen brought on both Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella, but it was too little, too late as the Bundesliga champions were simply outplayed and outscored by the Italians.