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, 358 days, Cissè became 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, 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.
“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
Cissè is enjoying a breakout first season with Milan. He signed for the club in February, then 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. He also found the net for Italy’s under-21 side against Armenia earlier this month.
Milan Bounce Back in Austria
The 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 to give Milan a 1-0 lead, then 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 sealed the rout.
Salzburg could make nothing of their one-man advantage after Milan defender Filippo Terracciano received a red card 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.