KAA Gent has not been able to win a single European away match this season before its trip to Turkey. In Cyprus, Norway, Sweden, Ireland and Azerbaijan it didn’t work out, but in Istanbul one Gift Orban would put an end to that bad series.
After a sleep-inducing first half hour, the still only 20-year-old Nigerian Basaksehir hit the canvas all by himself.
He first neatly completed a quick counterpunch with his left, then immediately deposited a ball from 30m into the square to close with a third hit in the rebound.
He did it all in 3’24”, making it the fastest ever hat-trick in the history of all UEFA club competitions.
Even before the break, Hugo Cuypers put the icing on the cream cake with a striking header. KAA Gent had already almost won the qualification for the quarterfinals of the Conference League.
In an unnecessary second half, the visitors kept everything neatly close to the back. Only a few minutes before the end, substitute Adnan Januzaj saved the Turkish honor with a nice bounce ball.
KAA Gent knows its opponent on Friday.
