Nigerian striker, Sadiq Umar, has started 2021 with a flyer after netting a superb 27-minute first-half hat-trick in Almeria’s 3-1 win over Ponferradina.
The 23-year-old had enjoyed a successful 2020, scoring 13 goals and supplying 10 assists for his teammates, and has begun the new year in similar fashion by netting his first senior career hat-trick.
The only other time he has executed a similar feat was in November 2015 for Roma’s Youth team in a UEFA Youth League trouncing of Bayer Leverkusen.
He also becomes the second player on earth to score a hat-trick in the new year, just hours behind Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez who had netted thrice in the 12:30 fixture against Simy’s Crotone.
All three of Sadiq’s strikes were clinical dispatches that emphasised his growing proficiency in the penalty area.
Shortly after scoring the third in the 29th minute, the lanky forward was unlucky to strike the right post following a ferocious right-footed drive.
He was also pivotal for Almeria defensively as he used his 1.9-metre frame to make some clearances and interceptions when his team was threatened from setpiece situations.
Sadiq has now scored 9 goals in 18 league appearances with 6 of those coming in his last 5 games.
Plus a further 3 assists to accompany, Sadiq looks on course to replicate in a higher-ranked league his amazing tally of 12 league goals and 13 assists from last season while in Serbia.
Before moving to Almeria, Sadiq had already scored 6 goals and 2 assists for Partizan Belgrade at the beginning of 2020/21, which technically takes his tally to 15 goals and 5 assists this season.
The win saw Almeria reduce the gap to the summit to just three points as they remain transfixed in third place with 41 points, maintaining close proximity to automatic promotion.
Sadiq, who was withdrawn shortly before the hour-mark, has 22 more matches to deliver impressive numbers in the Spanish Segunda Division and will hope to extend his purple patch when his side visit Numancia on January 6.
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