The boy is a bit special : Gent striker Orban continues formidable form with 3-minute hat-trick

Gift Orban is proving he is no flash in the pan after scoring back-to-back hat-tricks for the first time in his career as KAA Gent thrashed İstanbul Başakşehir 4-1 to progress to the quarterfinals of the Europa Conference League on Wednesday evening. 

Orban set tongues wagging after scoring four goals at the weekend as Gent hammered Zulte Waregem 6-2 in the Belgian Pro League and he took his fine form to the European stage. 

The 20-year-old tucked in the opener in the 31st minute after a perfect ball from Hyeon-seok Hong.

If Gent's first goal was a team effort, the second was all about the individual brilliance of Orban, who advanced and unleashed a powerful shot into the top corner in the 32nd minute to double the visitors' advantage. 

At minute 34, the Nigerian wonderkid completed his hat-trick, sweeping the ball into the net after poor marking by the İstanbul Başakşehir defenders. 

Hugo Cuypers increased the lead in the 37th minute, while Adnan Januzaj netted a consolation for the Super Lig side with two minutes left on the clock.

Only Fiorentina's Luka Jović (6) has scored more goals than Gift Orban (5) in this season's Europa Conference League, but the Gent number 20 has played four games less than the Serbian.

Overall, Orban has mustered an incredible twelve goals in nine official appearances since his move to Gent, which reflects the fact that he is talented and there's something special about him. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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