Michael Olunga of Kenya scored a hat-trick as Al-Duhail defeated Esteghlal 4-3 in an action-packed AFC Champions League Group C match on Wednesday.
Olunga’s contribution helped his Qatari side climb to the top of the table, with the Iranians trailing by one point in second place in Asia‘s premier club football competition.
The Kenyan striker tapped in following Mohammad Mazaheri’s save from an Edmilson Junior shot in the 10th minute, to level the game at 1-1.
17 minutes later, he pounced on a blunder by Esteghlal’s defence to give his side the lead with a neat left-footed finish.
Former Mali international Cheick Diabate was quick to equalize for the visitors by scoring from an Amir Motahari assist in the 34th minute before the Qatari club took the lead once again courtesy of Abdullah Abdulsalam, two minutes before half-time.
The goals kept coming as Esteghlal equalized to make it 3-3 from a corner kick before Olunga wrapped up the game with another left-footed finish, five minutes to the stroke of time.
God has a plan for all of usππΎππΎ pic.twitter.com/JsSZFAYYxt
β MICHAEL OLUNGA (@OgadaOlunga) April 21, 2021
This is the Kenyan talisman’s second hat-trick this year, with the previous one coming in Al Duhail’s 6-0 win against Al Ahli in Qatar’s Emir Cup.