Nicola Gazzola’s hat-trick lit up the State League Night Series final at Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium on Sunday night when South West Phoenix claimed a 3-0 victory over Forrestfield United.
The tricky attacker showed an array of skills and clinical finishing when scoring the goals that earned his side the title.He opened his account on 25 minutes, curling a delightful free kick from the right corner of the box, inside Luke Martino’s near post.
Then, just three minutes after the restart, Gazzola picked up possession 40 yards from goal and embarked on an incisive run that allowed him to dissect the Forrestfield rearguard before slotting the ball past Martino.
Five minutes later, the Italian completed his hat-trick with another clinical finish after collecting Lee Stewart’s throughball.
Phoenix coach Mauro Marchion was a happy man at the final whistle, but not just with his striker.
“I’m very delighted, not because of the three goals, but because of the performance altogether,” he said. “We looked very solid at the back and didn’t concede much.
“Nicola is an important player. When I can get players to come here from Italy I try to, to show the players in Bunbury what it means to play at this level and it lifts the rest of the team.”
United coach Rod Banjac wasn’t disappointed with his team’s effort, but now looks ahead to the season. “We had our chances and didn’t take them but they did,” he said.
