1-cap Super Eagles striker plunders hat-trick in season opener

Published on by Andrew Randa

Super Eagles forward Josh Maja stole the spotlight with a stunning hat-trick to lead West Bromwich Albion to a 3-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers in their EFL Championship opener at Loftus Road on Saturday.

The Baggies had to come from behind to secure the win, kicking off their campaign in style.

West Brom faced an early setback when Lucas Andersen put QPR ahead in the 16th minute. The Danish forward rose highest to meet a well-delivered cross, heading the ball past the West Brom goalkeeper to give the home side the lead.

1-cap Super Eagles striker plunders hat-trick in season opener
Photo by IMAGO

It was a blow for Albion, but they quickly regrouped and began to assert themselves.

Maja takes over, reminds Super Eagles faithful what he's capable of

West Brom’s response was swift and effective: midway through the first half, they found an equalizer through a well-orchestrated team move.

A flowing passage of play saw fullback Tomas Heggem deliver a pinpoint cross into the box. Maja, perfectly positioned, met the ball with a powerful header to level.

After the break, West Brom wasted no time in taking the lead. Six minutes in, another precise delivery found Maja, who calmly slotted home for his second.

In the 71st minute, the forgotten Super Eagles marksman completed his hat-trick in spectacular fashion, meeting a deflected shot with an acrobatic effort to give West Brom a commanding 3-1 lead.

1-cap Super Eagles striker plunders hat-trick in season opener
Photo by IMAGO

His hat-trick marked the first time a West Brom player had scored three goals in an opening league match since Alf Bentley in the 1913/14 season, and also ended a five-year, three-month, and 28-day wait since a Baggies player last netted a hat-trick in any competition.

Fellow Nigeria international Semi Ajayi played the full 90 minutes for West Brom, delivering a solid performance at the heart of the defence.

Josh Maja's only Super Eagles appearance came in the international friendly against Ukraine in Dnipro in 2019.

1-cap Super Eagles striker plunders hat-trick in season opener

Andrew Randa

Andrew Randa is a veteran Nigerian sports journalist with over 20 years of experience covering the beautiful game across Africa. Andrew served as a Media Officer for Nigeria's U-20 Men's National Team for three years, offering a unique perspective on the future stars of Nigerian football.

Beyond reporting, Andrew is a pioneer in sports graphics creation within Nigeria. His expertise extends to sports kit design, making him a true multi-faceted talent in the African sports landscape.

Andrew's experience is vast, with collaborations encompassing prestigious names like Kickoff, SuperSport, the NFF (Nigeria Football Federation), and the NPFL (Nigeria Professional Football League)