Luis Diaz becomes second Colombian ever to score a hat-trick in Champions League

As of Tuesday, Faustino Asprilla is no longer the only Colombian player to have scored a hat trick in a Champions League match. The legendary hat-trick of the former Newcastle player against Barcelona in the 1997-98 season has found a replica 27 years later in the figure of Luis Diaz. The 'Cafetero' winger stole the show in Liverpool's crushing 4-0 win over Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield.

The Arne Slot-led striker opened his account with a beautifully lob over Hradecky from Curtis Jones' pass. He secured his brace when he controlled Salah's cross from the left flank to quickly beat the Finnish keeper with a close-range finish, and he put the icing on the cake by picking up a loose ball after a rebound inside the box to complete the feat in the 92nd minute.

Back in the day, Faustino Asprilla broke the deadlock against Barcelona with a penalty goal in the 22nd minute. Before the break, he headed home a Gillespie's cross to make it 2-0, and he headed past Hesp in the 49th minute, also set up by the Northern Irishman, to make it 3-0. The 'Cules' made up the score at the end with goals from Luis Enrique and Luis Figo, but Newcastle ended up taking the victory in what was the first of only 3 matches that Asprilla played in the Champions League.

To put Luis Diaz's achievement into context, only five Colombian players have ever scored a brace in the history of the top club competition. Radamel Falcao, Jackson Martinez and Felipe Pardo achieved it twice while Adrian Ramos and Duvan Zapata did it once.

 

November 6, 2024