HE IS SHAPING up to be an intriguing player to keep tabs on over the coming years and on Sunday afternoon 18-year-old Justin Kluivert proved his worth in spades once again with a stunning solo hat-trick.
Ajax enjoyed an easy time of it in the second half against bottom-placed Roda JC with space freely available against a fragile defence which had shipped 23 goals in 12 games so far this season.
Kluivert made the most of it and succeeded in producing an individual display which sheds further limelight onto a blossoming career which only began following his senior debut for Ajax back in January, aged 17.
While the 2017 Europa League finalists got the job done on Sunday, they found themselves 1-0 down against relegation-threatened Roda at the break.
This before a second-half revival inspired by Kluivert’s personal onslaught which saw Ajax score five without reply.
His first featured a neat one-two with Hakim Ziyech before rolling the ball past goalkeeper Hidde Jurjus to make it 1-1.
The winger next delivered a piledriver from range to double his own tally before he wrapped up the three points and his hat-trick with another curled effort inside the box after some quick feet to beat his marker.
Kluivert’s profile has been helped by his being the son of legendary Holland and ex-Barcelona and AC Milan star Patrick, however the record books show the teenager on Sunday achieved something his father never did — scoring a hat-trick for Ajax.
Kluivert scored 50 goals in 97 appearances for the club during three seasons in the 1990s where he picked up back-to-back Eredivisie titles as well as a Uefa Champions League in 1995.
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Carty had a great game. The Connacht players looked absolutely gutted coming off at the end. It was a massive shift to put in. The RDS in the final 10mins was LOUD, seemed louder than the All Black’s game, in the terrace anyways. Heaving so it was. Frawley took some huge hits, especially that one from Aki (Ouch) but had a good game i thought, don’t think I seen him at full back before. Dave Kearney had a mixed game but I felt he stood up as a bit of a leader in the final quarter. Max Deegan did a good job when he came on.
@SPQH: I think the whole of the RDS felt that hit by Aki on Frawley, fair play to him for just jumping straight back up. He can also play centre so a great guy to have on the team.
Jaysus they deserved the win but what a game.
As a connacht fan, we only have ourselves to blame. Our defence I thought was too passive on the gainline. Its been the same all season, with a lack of agression, you give away allot of linebreaks and you’re always scrambling. Thats three we’ve lost in the last ten with poor defending when we should be closing it out. Glasgow, Ospreys and now Leinster. A 6-5 record should be a 9-2, and defeats will probably cost us a play off spot. Amazingly, for a team.who won the pro12, we lack the certainty of confidence that Leinster, Scarlets and Glasgow have.
But fair play to Leinster, their handling was exceptional in the last ten, and they took it from us, rather than us throwing it away even though our composure was awful. Thought Adam Byrne was awesome all game. Connacht have to learn to play for 80, similar to Ireland after the 2013 to the all blacks.
I thought Adam Byrne had a savage game. He always looks for the offload.
Underrated player.
Gutted 4 Connaught they just seemed to run out of petrol.
@Gerald Long: Diesel in the wesht lad
Subs made the difference.
its a f*****g hard one to take!!
Once Leinster brought out the 2nds to replace the 3rds it was all over.