Europa Conference League: Gift Orban’s hat-trick fires Gent to big win over Szczecin

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria forward, Gift Orban scored three goals to propel his Belgian side, Gent to a 5-0 bashing of Polish outfit, Pogon Szczecin in the first leg of UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers on Wednesday.

Orban opened the scoring for his side in the 13th minute from Julien De Sart’s assist. He doubled the lead for Gent in the 35th minute off Sven Kums’ assist.

A brace in the last five minutes of the first half from Hugo Cuypers increased Gent’s lead to 4-0 before the halftime break.

Orban completed his hat-trick in the 64th minute as Hyun Seok Hong set him up for his side’s fifth goal to round up a comfortable victory.

The young attacker has scored four goals in two UEFA Europa League Qualifiers this season and started where he stopped last season and has scored a goal in his opening league game for Gent.

Gent will next face Westerlo in the league on August 13 before taking a trip to Satdion Miejski in Poland to play Szczecin in the return leg on August 17.