Milan’s Cisse Makes European History With Hat-Trick at 19
Scored three goals in AC Milan’s 4-0 Europa League win over RB Salzburg in Austria, becoming the youngest Milan player to score a hat-trick in a European…
AC Milan forward Alphadjo Cisse scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 Europa League win over RB Salzburg in Austria, setting a club record and making European history for Italy. At 19 years, 358 days, he became the youngest Italian player to score a hat-trick in a major European competition.
The result also marked Milan’s response to a 2-0 defeat by Benfica at San Siro in the opening round. Cisse put his side ahead with an early header, scored again late in the first half and completed his treble shortly after the interval.
His record-setting night came with Milan down to 10 men late in the match. Defender Filippo Terracciano received a red card six minutes from time, but Salzburg could not make the numerical advantage count.
Two records in one night
ESPN reported that Cisse surpassed Giancarlo Danova as the youngest Italian to score a hat-trick in a major European competition. Danova was 20 years and 309 days old when he scored three for Milan against Olympiacos in the European Cup in September 1959.
Yahoo Sports described Cisse as the youngest player ever to score a hat-trick for Milan in UEFA competitions, saying he had broken a record that had stood for 67 years. The report said Danova scored all three goals in Milan’s win over Olympiacos on 23 September 1959, aged 20 years and 10 months.
Cisse also became the first Milan player to score three times in a European match since Filippo Inzaghi’s Champions League hat-trick against Deportivo La Coruña in September 2002, according to ESPN.
“I'm really pleased with this hat trick, and with the win too,” Cisse said. “I'm very pleased and I'll definitely carry this form into the next match.”
A breakthrough season at Milan
The hat-trick adds to a strong start with the senior side. ESPN reported that Cisse signed for Milan in February and was loaned back to second-tier club Catanzaro before joining his new employers this summer. Yahoo Sports said he began his career at Hellas Verona and made his professional debut in 2023.
He had already scored on his debut for Milan and found the net against Juventus, according to Yahoo Sports. ESPN also reported that he scored for Italy’s under-21 team against Armenia earlier this month and had two goals in five Serie A appearances this season.
In Austria, Cisse struck three times before substitute Gonçalo Ramos added Milan’s fourth, ESPN reported. Christian Pulisic began on the bench and replaced Cisse in the 60th minute.
Terracciano’s dismissal did not change the score. The defender was sent off for pushing over Dominik Schmid, while Salzburg failed to score during the closing stages with an extra player on the field.
Milan’s 4-0 victory gave the club a European result to build on after its opening-round loss, while Cisse’s three goals established him as the youngest Italian player to score a hat-trick in a major European competition at 19 years, 358 days.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
