AC Milan's Alphadjo Cissè made European history on Thursday, scoring a hat trick in Milan's 4-0 thrashing of RB Salzburg in the UEFA Europa League. At 19 years, 358 days, Cissè became the youngest Italian player ever to score a hat trick in a major European competition, eclipsing Giancarlo Danova, who was 20 years and 309 days old when he scored for Milan against Olympiacos in the European Cup in September 1959.
Cissè is also the first Milan player to score three times in a European game since Filippo Inzaghi's hat trick against Deportivo La Coruña in the Champions League in September 2002. "I'm really pleased with this hat trick, and with the win too," Cissè said. "I'm very pleased and I'll definitely carry this form into the next match."
The young midfielder is enjoying a breakout first season for Milan. He signed for the club in February before being loaned back to second-tier club Catanzaro, then joined his new employers this summer. Cissè has scored twice in five Serie A appearances so far this season and also found the net for Italy's under-21s against Armenia earlier this month.
Thursday's victory in Austria saw Ruben Amorim's Milan bounce back from a 2-0 defeat to Benfica at San Siro in the opening round. Cissè opened the scoring with an early header, added a second from close range late in the first half, and completed his hat trick with a right-foot shot shortly after the interval. Substitute Gonçalo Ramos sealed the rout, and Salzburg could not make its one-man advantage count after Milan defender Filippo Terracciano was sent off six minutes from time.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing