Azerbaijan’s Sabah, representing the country in the Europa League, marked its second-leg match against Slovenia’s Celje in the first qualifying round with a hat-trick.
Joy Lance Mickels scored three goals against the home team, Idman.biz reports.
The 31-year-old German forward became the fifth player in the history of Azerbaijani clubs to score a hat-trick in European competitions. Before Mickels, four other players had achieved this feat: Badri Kvaratskhelia and Olavio Juninho in the Champions League, Ernest N’For and Theo Weeks in the Europa League. Mickels is the third player to score a hat-trick in this tournament and the second to do so in an away match.
Hat-tricks by Azerbaijani club players in European competitions:
2000/01 Champions League
Badri Kvaratskhelia – 19.07.2000, Shamkir vs Skonto (Latvia) – 4:1 (after extra time)
2014/15 Europa League
Ernest N’For – 07.08.2014, Chikhura (Georgia) vs Neftchi – 2:3
2015/16 Europa League
Theo Weeks – 30.06.2015, Gabala vs Samtredia (Georgia) – 5:1
2024/25 Champions League
Olavio Juninho – 30.07.2024, Qarabag vs Lincoln (Gibraltar) – 5:0
2025/26 Europa League
Joy Lance Mickels – 17.07.2025, Celje (Slovenia) vs Sabah – 3:3 (after extra time)
Although Sabah lost 2-3 at home, they won the away leg 3-2 in regular time but conceded a goal in extra time, thus exiting the Europa League and moving on to compete in the Conference League.
Idman.biz
