Fastest top-flight ‘trick by Mane as Saints maul Villa
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SOUTHAMPTON’S Senegal forward Sadio Mane rewrote the record books with the fastest ever hat-trick in the English top-flight inside three minutes as it thrashed relegation-threatened Aston Villa 6-1 yesterday.
His treble was timed at two minutes and 56 seconds breaking Scotland striker Graham Leggat’s record of three minutes for Fulham in a club-record 10-1 win over Ipswich Town in 1963.
Mane also snatched Robbie Fowler’s record for the fastest Premier League hat-trick which was four minutes and 33 seconds for Liverpool against Arsenal on August 28, 1994.
The win provisionally took Southampton into sixth place, which will bring a Europa League spot for next season, above Tottenham Hotspur which was hosting Hull City later.
Villa’s defeat leaves Tim Sherwood’s side still in danger of the drop in 14th place four points and four places above Hull, which occupies the last relegation spot, with one game left.
The 23-year-old Mane was shocked when told of his achievement in a post-match interview with BT Sport.
“Really? It is the fastest Premier League hat-trick? The most important thing today is the victory,” he said. “We have a great team and last week (losing to Leicester City) was not easy but we have to work hard every game.”
Saints boss Ronald Koeman saluted Mane’s efforts, adding: “It was incredible from Sadio Mane. A player like him, to get that kind of space, he will punish you. I didn’t expect that first half. We played fantastic football and had good movement and players running in to space.
“The whole team did a good job and I am proud.”
Mane struck in the 13th, 14th and 16th minutes to give Saints a 3-0 lead before Shane Long netted twice to send the home side into the dressing rooms leading 5-1 at halftime.
Villa striker Christian Benteke had pulled a goal back in added time before the break prompting the travelling fans to sing: “We’re going to win 6-5!”
But it was Southampton which scored again through striker Graziano Pelle in the 81st after Mane played a sublime one-two before crossing for the Italian to sweep home.
A smiling Mane shook hands with some of the delighted Southampton fans at the end of the match, walking around the pitch with the match ball.
Mane is the third Southampton player to score a Premier League hat-trick after James Beattie and Matt Le Tissier.
The fastest hat-trick in Football League history was scored in two minutes and 20 seconds by Bournemouth’s James Hayter against Wrexham in 2004 after he came on as a substitute with his team leading 3-0 and six minutes left.
His parents missed his hat-trick as they had to leave early to get the last ferry back to the Isle of Wight.
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