Obi's hat-trick seals victory in thriller

Ijeoma Obi's hat-trick ensured that Bobruichanka rolled past a gallant Gomel in a 3-2 win - to maintain their push for a Belarus Women Premier League title.

 It took her goals total to an astonishing 120 in the Eastern Europe nation for the scoring machine, as the Bobruisk team started it's league campaign.

Alabi Elos and Eno Umoh Udouak started alongside Obi in the thrilling encounter, with Obim Sike coming on as a second half substitute.

 Tatiana Krasnova took the lead for Gomel in the 12th when she capitalised on an error at the back to score.

Obi found some space and fired home from close range to equalise in the 16th minute.

The Nigerian latched on to a midfield pass to score again in the 39th minute.

Obi completed her hat-trick for the title chasing outfit with an easy tap-in, 3 minutes before the break.

The visitors struck back 14 minutes after recess through Angelina Shurikovskaya.

Elos was excellent too, but she earned a 62nd minute yellow card, while it was also a winning start for former Ibom Angels ace Eno and Sike.

And a keen follower of the women game in Nigeria, Abdakareem Abdazeez aka Hayzed hailed the “remarkable” Ijeoma Obi after her hat-trick underpinned a spectacular triumph.

 “She is a remarkable player. Her determination, her desire, her will is at such a big level. She is a world-class player, who is enjoying her football, and long may it continue,” the Ilorin based football follower told futbalgalore.blogspot.com.

“We were a little bit too deep in the opening exchanges and gave too much space to their players who were a threat,” said the ex-Rivers Angels forward.

“We probably lost the ball one or two times too cheaply, but we were still an offensive threat.

“It was an outstanding result for us. The mental resilience is how we’ve grown in recent months– and that confidence to know we can get back in the game, the former Minsk star disclosed to futbalgalore.blogspot.com.