Hat-trick hero Olcan Adın fires Trabzonspor past Apollon Limassol

TRABZON

Trabzonspor's Olcan Adin (L) fights for the ball with Apollon Limassol's Charis Kyriakou. REUTERS photo

A hat-trick and an assist from Olcan Adın led the way for Trabzonspor on Nov. 28 as they went on to knock out a resilient Apollon Limassol 4-2 at the Avni Aker Stadium. Already qualified to the next stage, the Black Sea Storm stay on top of the Europa League Group J with 13 points. A draw in the last game of the group in Rome against Lazio, second with 11 points after a 2-0 road win against Legia Warsaw, will be enough for Trabzonspor to secure the first position of the group.
 
Against the Greek Cypriots, the Storm was embodied by one man, Olcan Adın, omnipresent in almost all of Trabzonspor’s assaults. The short winger, opened the score in the 23rd minute in an unlikely fashion with a header, perfectly timed and executed, on a cross from the Black Sea side's French star - and self-proclaimed ambassador – Florent Malouda.
 
Only two minutes later, Olcan turned into a provider assisting Soner Aydoğan, who took two shots to beat Apollon’s keeper Isli Hidi.
 
Olcan picked up where he left off to make it 3-0 in the 61st minute, as the fans were preparing their traditional Trabzon licence-plate inspired cheer. 
 
When the game looked like it was over and the Black Sea side would cruise to a comfortable victory, the Greek Cypriots managed to find two goals out of the blue, with Abraham Gue Gue and Gaston Sangoy, the latter from the penalty spot.
 
Seeing his side starting to doubt, Olcan reappeared to lash an elegant free-kick on the right side of the net, sealing Trabzon’s victory.
 
The game was also marked by the friendly exchanges between the teams as the Greek Cypriot club’s President Nikos Kirzis attended a dinner hosted by Trabzonspor Chairman İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu before the kick off. Apollon Limassol’s players and executives had visited the Greek Orthodox Monastry of Sümela on the outskirts of the city on Nov. 27.