The first hat-trick of the 2026/27 Azerbaijan Premier League season has been recorded.
İdman.Biz reports, citing the Professional Football League, that Sabah striker Joy-Lance Mickels scored three times in his team's 5-0 home victory over Zira. It was also the German forward's first hat-trick in the Premier League.
Mickels' second goal of the match was his 60th in the Azerbaijani top flight, while his third took his total to 61. The forward, who has played exclusively for Sabah in Azerbaijan, has reached the milestone in 113 league appearances since making his debut in the 2021/22 season.
The achievement means Mickels has equaled the record for the most goals scored by a foreign player in the history of Azerbaijan's top division, drawing level with Georgian footballer Georgi Adamiya.
Badri Kvaratskhelia and Filip Ozobic have scored more goals in the Azerbaijani championship, but both represented the Azerbaijan national team and are therefore not included in this particular foreign-player record.
Mickels has also taken his total number of Premier League penalties to 10, converting nine of them.
The hat-trick underlines the German's importance to Sabah's attack as the club continues its domestic campaign. His goalscoring consistency has made him one of the most productive forwards in the history of the Azerbaijani championship.
