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, he becomes the youngest Italian player ever to score a hat trick in a major European competition.
The previous record belonged to Giancarlo Danova, who was 20 years and 309 days old 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 against Deportivo La Coruña in the Champions League in September 2002.
A Breakout Season
“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.”
Cissè is enjoying a breakout first season at the club. He signed for Milan in February but was loaned back to second-tier club Catanzaro before joining his new employers this summer. The attacking midfielder has scored twice in five Serie A appearances this season. Earlier this month, he also found the net for Italy’s under-21s against Armenia.
Milan Bounce Back
The win in Austria saw Ruben Amorim’s Milan recover from a 2-0 defeat to Benfica at San Siro in the opening round of the Europa League.
Cissè set the tone early, heading Milan into a 1-0 lead. He doubled his tally with a close-range finish late in the first half. Shortly after the interval, he completed his hat trick with a right-foot shot. Substitute Gonçalo Ramos then completed the rout.
Salzburg could make nothing of their one-man advantage after Milan defender Filippo Terracciano was shown a red card six minutes from time for pushing over Dominik Schmid.
Pulisic Introduced
United States attacker Christian Pulisic began the match on the substitutes’ bench. He replaced Cissè in the 60th minute.