Alphadjo Cissè made European history for Italy with a hat trick in AC Milan’s 4-0 thrashing of RB Salzburg in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday. At 19 years and 358 days, Cissè becomes the youngest Italian player ever to score a hat trick in a major European competition.
The previous record holder was Giancarlo Danova, who was aged 20 years and 309 days when he scored for AC 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 in the Champions League against Deportivo La Coruña 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.”
A breakout season for Cissè
Cissè is enjoying a breakout first season at Milan. He signed for the club in February before being loaned back to second-tier club Catanzaro, ahead of joining his new employers this summer. An attacking midfielder, he has scored twice in five Serie A appearances this season. He also found the net for Italy’s under-21s against Armenia earlier this month.
Milan respond in Austria
Thursday’s win in Austria saw Ruben Amorim’s Milan bounce back from a 2-0 defeat to Benfica at San Siro in the opening round of the Europa League. Cissè set the pace with an early header for a 1-0 lead and added his second from close range late in the first half. He completed his hat trick with a right-foot shot shortly after the interval, and substitute Gonçalo Ramos completed the rout.
Salzburg made little of their one-man advantage after Milan defender Filippo Terracciano was sent off six minutes from time for pushing over Dominik Schmid. United States attacker Christian Pulisic began the match on the substitutes’ bench before replacing Cissè in the 60th minute.