Nigeria star fires Atalanta to first European title
Nigeria international Ademola Lookman bagged a hat-trick to guide Atalanta to a 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Europa League final on Wednesday evening.
The Bundesliga champions boasted the likes of Granit Xhaka, Florian Wirtz and Edmond Tapsoba, while Gianluca Scamacca, Charles De Ketelaere and Lookman spear-heading Atalanta’s front trio.
Lookman came to the party on 12 minutes after he came in on the blind-side to slam home following a low delivery across the six-yard area from Davide Zappacosta.
Atalanta fashioned another before the midway period with a curling effort from just inside the area by Scamacca, but the forward steered well wide of the near post.
It all came to one man again as Lookman dropped a shoulder to cut inside and curled into the bottom-corner ahead of the half-hour mark.
Leverkusen, who prior to the match have been unbeaten in all competitions, were completely out of rhythm and very nearly conceded a third through De Ketelaere from an awkward angle.
The Italian outfit introduced Giorgio Scalvini for Sead Kolasinac at halftime, with Josip Stanisic sacrificed for Victor Boniface on the side of Leverkusen.
Not much changed in the way of momentum following the second half, as the Nerazzurri continued to have it all though the Bundesliga outfit showed some courage.
Lookman continued to impact matters and completed his hat-trick when he carved out space outside the box before firing into the far post inside the final ten minutes.
The boys from Bergamo ran down the final stages for the win and a first-ever continental title and became the first team to defeat Leverkusen this season too.
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