Super Falcons captain and six-time African Womens Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala produced another electric performance on Thursday night, scoring her second consecutive hat-trick to inspire Al Hilal Ladies to a stunning 62 victory over Al Ahly in the semi-final of the Saudi Womens Premier Challenge Cup.
Oshoala, who has been in irresistible form since her move to Saudi Arabia from Bay FC, opened the scoring early in the contest and quickly doubled her tally before halftime as Al Hilal surged ahead. In the second half she struck again to complete her third goal of the night, underlining her deadly finishing and her growing importance to the Riyadh-based side.
Her treble helped push Al Hilal into the final of the competition, where they will face Al Nassr who themselves booked their place with a comprehensive 50 semi-final victory over Al Ittihad in the other bracket.
Already in fine scoring rhythm, Oshoala had grabbed a hat-trick earlier in the tournament as Al Hilal demolished Eastern Flames 50 to reach the last four making this latest performance a continuation of her remarkable goal-scoring streak.
The 30-year-old Nigerian has quickly become a talismanic figure in Saudi womens football, combining clinical finishing with sharp movement inside the box to torment defenders. Her leadership and consistency have been pivotal as Al Hilal chase their first major trophy in the burgeoning womens game in the Kingdom.
Al Hilal will now look to capitalise on Oshoalas rich vein of form as they pursue silverware in the Challenge Cup Final, with fans and pundits alike expecting another standout performance from Nigerias premier forward.
