PSG's Layvin Kurzawa and five of the most unlikely hat-trick heroes

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  • Layvin Kurzawa enjoyed stealing the headlines from Neymar and co as he walked away with the match ball after scoring a second-half hat-trick in Paris Saint-Germain‘s 5-0 Champions League demolition of Anderlecht last week.

    Kurzawa, a left-back, scored three times in the space of 26 minutes after the break at the Parc des Princes as PSG ran away with the game following first-half strikes from Marco Verratti and Neymar.

    Here, we look at five other unlikely hat-trick heroes.

    SEYDOU KEITA | BARCELONA V REAL ZARAGOAZA | 2009

    In 2009, Barcelona were enjoying their most successful era with Pep Guardiola at the helm and a wealth of attacking talent within their ranks. However, when Real Zaragoza came knocking at the Nou Camp, it was Seydou Keita who starred in a 6-1 rout of the visitors.

    The midfielder was hardly accustomed to being among the goals with the likes of Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thierry Henry and Andres Iniesta part of the Catalan roster as well. On this occasion though, he was the main man, opening the scoring with a header from a corner-kick.

    He then scored the third, arriving in the box to tap in a squared ball from Ibrahimovic and wrapped up his hat-trick at the death with another header from a corner. His treble on the night accounted for half his season’s tally over the season from 44 appearances.

    Seydou Keita

    Seydou Keita

    STEVE WATSON | EVERTON V LEEDS UNITED | 2003

    Just another tactical master-stroke from David Moyes. Seriously though, the Scot moved Steve Watson, who usually plied his trade as a defender, into midfield when Leeds United visited Goodison Park and he stunned everyone with an unprecedented treble in a 4-0 win.

    This hat-trick was particularly memorable because of the spectacular nature of the goals as much as the unlikely goal scorer. He opened the scoring, playing a one-two with Duncan Ferguson inside the box before lashing a half-volley into the roof of the net.

    Paul Robinson then came off his line to intercept a ball over the top of the defence but his clearance fell for Watson who proceeded to lob him from over 35 yards out. He then chipped the keeper yet again for his third from a near impossible angle.

    Everton hat-trick hero Steve Watson (R)

    Everton hat-trick hero Steve Watson (R)

    RAY PARLOUR | ARSENAL V NEWCASTLE UNITED | 2000

    Ray Parlour had little swagger about him but was an unsung hero during his time for Arsenal, solid as ever and always putting a good shift in. On this occasion against Newcastle though, “The Romford Pele” enjoyed a rare moment in the limelight as he graced Highbury with three of his finest.

    Arsenal were on song on the day and Parlour enjoyed plenty of freedom to bomb forward from midfield. He finished off a lovely passing move from the Gunners with a fine strike for his first before nodding in Thierry Henry’s cross to make it 4-0 to the hosts.

    Robert Pires then dinked a ball over three Newcastle players for Parlour, bursting past him like a freight train, to latch onto and steer past the keeper to complete his hat-trick.

    Ray Parlour (R)

    Ray Parlour (R)

    NALDO | WERDER BREMEN V EINTRACHT FRANKFURT | 2006

    Naldo stayed true to his Brazilian roots against Frankfurt, boasting a certain flair and eye for goal that every Selecao player harbours regardless of their position on the pitch.

    After carrying the ball out from the back, he played a pass and continued his run unmarked before receiving the return with only the keeper to beat which he did with unerring ease for a centre-back. A more tradition centre half goal followed as he buried his header from a free-kick for his second.

    He then went on to become the first defender to score a hat-trick in Bundesliga, completing the feat with a shot from distance off a free-kick which bobbled in along the turf.

    Naldo (R)

    Naldo (R)

    DAVID BENTLEY | BLACKBURN V MANCHESTER UNITED | 2006

    Comparing David Bentley to David Beckham was ill-advised to say the least but there was a brief moment in time when he produced some superb form for Blackburn and this hat-trick was very much what kicked it off.

    In only his first appearance since moving from Arsenal permanently, Bentley became the first player in 14 years to put three past Manchester United. His goals in a stunning 4-3 win over the Red Devils doubled his career tally for senior strikes at the time.

    His first two were rather fortuitous, pouncing on a rebound for the opener before taking advantage of a mix up between Rio Ferdinand and Edwin van der Saar to bundle in the second.

    There was nothing scrappy about his hat-trick goal though. Robbie Savage hooked the ball in from the left and Bentley struck it first time on the bounce to bury it into the far corner to make it 4-1 at Ewood Park. Ruud van Nistelrooy bagged a late brace but the hosts ended yup 4-3 winners, leaving Bentley to take the plaudits.

    David Bentley

    David Bentley

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