Ademola Lookman was the star of the night as his hat-trick in Dublin, Ireland nailed it for Atalanta in their 3-0 Europa League final win over Bayer Leverkusen.
Bayer Leverkusen who completed the German Bundesliga unbeaten, were the favourites to win, but the Super Eagles striker had other ideas and he put an end to Bayer Leverkusen’s 51 match unbeaten streak.
Lookman scored two second half goals and then added the third in second half to be the first player in 49 years to score a hat-trick in a European final. The victory also handed Atalanta their first trophy in 61 years.
“It’s one of the best nights of my life,” Lookman told TNT Sports.
“It was an amazing performance from the team. We did it – fantastic. I’m just happy we won. We made history tonight.”
He added that he was third time lucky after reaching the final of the African Cup of Nations and losing to Cote d’Ivoire, the final of the Copa Italia and losing to Juventus.
“I’m third time lucky, we won today and it’s worth celebrating.”
Lookman was not even expected to start the match but coach Gian Piero Gasperini, with nothing to lose, threw all his four strikes into the fray and Lookman calmed down nerves in the 12th minute. His second goal was a delight as he sold Granit Xhaka a dummy, before curling into the far corner.
The final nail in Bayer Leverkusen coffin was another fabulous finish from Lookman as he skipped past Edmond Tapsoba and this time blasted into the top corner on his weaker left foot.
Lookman’s Super Eagles teammate, Victor Boniface was introduced in the second half by Xavier Alonso, but there was nothing he could do to turn things around for Bayer Leverkusen who in their campaigns had often fought back to win.
