EPL
In-Demand Liverpool Target Hits Treble In Europa League Win
Benfica youngster Joao Felix was undoubtedly the best player on the Europa League scene last night after he scored a treble in the win over German Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Portuguese teen sensation scored three goals as Benfica beat 10-man Frankfurt 4-2 at home in the first leg of their quarterfinal tie in the Europa League.
Portuguese giants Benfica took a big step towards clinching a semifinal berth at the expense of their German club.
The hosts were handed a good opportunity to take the lead when Eintracht Frankfurt defender Evans N’Dicka was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity in the box paving the way for Joao Felix to give his team the lead from the spot on 21 minutes.
Joao Felix has been linked with several European clubs including Liverpool who reported had a £61m bid rejected for the 19-year-old.
Frankfurt striker Luka Jovic equalised for the German club in the 40th minute against his parent club who were level for just three minutes before the aforementioned Joao Felix added a second goal with two first-half minutes left.
Ruben Dias added a third goal five minutes after the halftime interval before Joao Felix completed his hattrick four minutes later to edge Benfica 4-1.
Goncalo Mendes Pacienca pulled one back for Eintracht Frankfurt to give the German club a fighting chance ahead of the second leg on Thursday.
