Nigerian forward Elijah Adebayo scored a remarkable hat-trick, while his compatriot Chiedozie Ogbene also hit target as Luton Town thrashed Brighton & Hove Albion 4-0 at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday night.
The win lifts the Hatters out of the Premier League relegation zone and leaves Brighton’s top-four hopes hanging by a thread, Footballrover reports.
Adebayo opened the scoring with a header inside the opening minute, before Lagos-born Chiedozie Ogbene doubled Luton’s lead two minutes later.
The Hatters continued to dominate the first half, with Adebayo adding his second goal just before the break.
Brighton rallied in the second half but were unable to find a way past Luton goalkeeper James Shea.
Adebayo then completed his hat-trick midway through the second half to put the game beyond doubt.
An un-four-gettable night at KR! ✨ pic.twitter.com/4P7JyHKZ82
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) January 30, 2024
The win was Luton’s biggest in the Premier League since they beat Southampton 6-1 in January 1989. It was also their first league win over Brighton since 1983.
Adebayo’s hat-trick was the first by a Luton player in the top flight since Lars Elstrup in 1990.
Elijah Adebayo with his hat-trick ball
It was also the first hat-trick scored at Kenilworth Road in the top flight since Mark Stein in 1988, according to Optajoe.
The win was a huge boost for Luton’s survival hopes.
What it means to this team ???? pic.twitter.com/MWNKLMgbav
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) January 30, 2024
They are now 16th in the table, three points clear of the relegation zone. Brighton, on the other hand, are now seven points adrift of fourth place.
What’s next for both sides?
Luton Town travel to Everton next Saturday, while Brighton & Hove Albion host Tottenham Hotspur the following day.
Ogebene plays for Ireland at international level, not Nigeria.
But he’s Nigerian