By Samuel A. November 30, 2024
Justin Kluivert made Premier League history on Saturday afternoon by netting a hat trick of penalties, becoming the first player to ever do so in the English top flight. His treble, which helped Bournemouth win 4-2 against Wolves at Molineux on Saturday, was more or less like a masterclass in how to take a spot kick. Not only was it the first hat- trick of penalties in the Premier League era, but also the first in the English top flight since Ken Barnes scored three for Manchester City in a 6-2 victory against Everton at Maine Road on 7 December, 1957, roughly 67 years back.
After being told nobody else in the Premier League era had managed the feat, Justin replied: “That sounds beautiful. “To go in the history books, that’s amazing. I’m super happy with it.”
Kluivert scored his first spot kick just three minutes into the game after Evanilson drew a foul very early into the game. There was controversy about the decision as Wolves boss Gary O’Neil thought Evanilson had handled the ball before he raced into the penalty area, only to be brought down by Toti Gomes. The incident went to the video assistant referee (VAR), but the decision was allowed to stand. Kluivert kept staring at Jose Sa, before sending him the wrong way, with the ball going to Sa’s left and into the bottom corner.
His next penalty came about 15 minutes later with the score at that point 2-1 to Bournemouth. VAR again played its part, telling the referee to watch the action on a pitchside monitor to see Sa had kicked Evanilson’s ankle after a heavy first touch from the goalkeeper. This time, Kluivert blasted the ball the opposite way, to Sa’s right.
Kluivert and Bournemouth’s manager Andoni Iraiola admitted that he did not expect Kluivert to take the next penalty after taking the first two, stating: “Every time you take another penalty it becomes more difficult. I wasn’t completely sure we should allow him to score the third one, but it was difficult to take it off him. I suffered against him in Spain, I remember this. The first penalty gives a bit of information to the goalkeeper, Justin has two different approaches in the first two and in the third one he was very good, he was full of confidence.”
Kluivert struck his third spot-kick past Sa as Bournemouth took the three points, moving up to 11th in the table.
