Saudi Arabia: Ashleigh Plumptre bags second hat-trick in Jeddah derby

Nigeria international Ashleigh Plumptre has taken the Saudi Women’s League by storm after netting her second hat-trick in the victory over rivals Al-Ahli in the Jeddah derby.

The Super Falcons defender inspired her side in their convincing 6-2 thrashing of Ahly as they climbed to second place on the league table, just two points behind Al-Nassr.

The 25-year-old netted three times in a match for the second time this season for her new team in Saudi Arabia having scored a hattrick on her debut against Dammam Eastern Flames back in September.

All the goals were scored in a blistering first-half performance, with two of them in the space of three minutes into the tie watched by FIFA President, Gianni Infantino amongst other dignitaries.

Plumptre and Nur Mustafa scored two quick-fire goals before the Nigerian extended the advantage on the half-hour mark after connecting to Salma Amani’s assist at the Prince Mohammed Abdullah Stadium.

Mustafa scored again in the 45th minute before Plumptre rounded up a magnificent first half with a ferocious strike from the halfway line.

The Super Falcons defender has now scored six goals this season for the Ittihad side and will be looking to do the same in the national team shirt as Nigeria prepares for the final qualifying round of the 2024 Olympic Games slated for Paris.

After the break, Al-Ahli pulled two back through Ibtissam Jraïdi and Ayah Faisal Ayed Al Majali but Layla Pascal Iskandar completed the flood of goals for Al Ittihad late in the game.

The former Leicester City defender had been surprisingly excluded from the recent Super Falcons list.