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Top 6: Flawless hat-tricks

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Didier Drogba playing for Chelsea
Drogba… Did he, eh? (Image courtesy of Lynchg)

On Saturday, Wigan Athletic midfielder Jordi Gomez scored what is known as a ‘flawless’ hat-trick: that is, one goal each with right foot, left foot and head, all in one half, consecutively (as in no-one else scoring in between). Here are six other recent examples of such, with video evidence where possible…

Joel Pohjanpalo for HJK Helsinki v IFK Mariehamn, April 2012

The 17-year-old, recently linked with Liverpool, was making his first ever start in the Finnish Premier League when he scored this perfect hat-trick within just two minutes and 42 seconds…

Didier Drogba for Chelsea v Wigan Athletic, May 2010

This 8-0 win for Carlo Ancelotti’s men secured them the title…

Johnny Howson for Leeds United v Scunthorpe, October 2010

The midfielder, now of Norwich City, struck three times in the last half hour to help his side to a 4-1 victory at Glanford Park. We can’t find a video containing all three goals, but here’s a camera phone memento of his final goal and the wild scenes of celebration it sparked…

Danny Butterfield for Crystal Palace v Wolverhampton Wanderers, February 2010

The Eagles right-back had scored just once in six seasons before bagging this six-minute treble as a makeshift striker in this FA Cup tie at Selhurst Park…

…and here’s Paul Merson reacting to it live on Sky…

Yakubu Aiyegbeni for Everton v Fulham, December 2007

The Guangzhou R&F striker struck three times in the second half to bag David Moyes’s Toffees a 3-0 win over the COttagers at Goodison Park. You can find a couple of the goals in this compilation of Yak-feeding from the 2007-08 season…

Jordan Rhodes for Brentford v Shrewsbury, January 2009

The striker, now of Blackburn Rovers, managed it inside the opening half hour.

Can you think of any other recent examples of a flawless hat-trick that we have missed? Have your say in the comments section below…