Tijjani Noslin announced himself in grand style to Italian football with a well-taken hat-trick in SS Lazio’s 3-1 win over Napoli in a Coppa Italia match at the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday.
Both teams rested a slew of first-team starters but it didn’t stop the encounter from being an intriguing one, with the first piece of drama coming when Pedro was brought down in the Napoli penalty area.
However, Mattia Zaccagni saw his penalty saved by the Napoli goalkeeper in the 20th minute. Lazio were denied a goal in the 27th minute when Patric’s looping header was cleared off the line by Giovanni Simeone.
Third time is a charm and Lazio were not to be denied a deserved opening goal, scored by Noslin with a glancing header at the near post just past the half-hour mark.
Lazio’s lead lasted only five minutes as Napoli were back on level terms thanks to Simeone, who held off a challenge to guide a loose ball home from close range.
But it didn’t take long for Lazio to get back in front through Noslin three minutes before half-time as the forward dummied to avoid a tackle in the box before strike into the bottom corner.
The 25-year-old made it 3-1 five minutes into the second half with a header to send Lazio into the next round of the Coppa Italia at the expense of the Serie A leaders. Both teams will meet again on Sunday in the league, this time in Naples.