After the qualification phases, the first ever edition of the Europa Conference league started proper on Tuesday, 14 September and after the completion of second group games, a lot of records have been created by teams and individuals.
Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur is presented with the match ball by teammate Heung-Min Son after scoring a hat-trick following victory in the UEFA Europa Conference League group G match between Tottenham Hotspur and NS Mura at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 30, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
In this article, we take a look at these records…,
First Games
On Tuesday, 14 September, the first ever group games of the competition were played in the afternoon across two Stadia as Maccabi Haïfa hosted Feyenoord at the Sammy Ofer Stadium in Haifa, Israel, and in Tel-Aviv, Alashkert FC kickoff against Maccabi Tel-Aviv at the same time.
As both Maccabi clubs, Haïfa and Tel-Aviv are from Israel, the country became the first country to host a Conference league group game.
First Goalscorer
Maccabi Tel-Aviv’s Croatian striker Stipe Perica entered the history books as he became the first player to score in an Europa Conference league game proper after the 26year old gave his side the lead against Alashkert FC.
First Ever Win
Maccabi Tel-Aviv were the first side to win an Europa Conference league match, beating Alashkert FC by four goals to one in one of the first two games played in the competition history.
First Ever Draw
Nothing could separate Maccabi Haïfa and Feyenoord in one of the two opening games with neither of the sides able to find the back of the net as they settled for a goalless draw.
Maccabi Haifa’s American Goalkeeper, Josh Cohen and Feyenoord Dutch Goalkeeper, Justin Bijlow both became the first Goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in the Conference league in that game.
First Penalty
The first ever penalty in the competition was awarded to Maccabi Tel-Aviv. Alashkert FC defender Taron Voskanyan was the culprit as his challenge on Eduardo Guerrero in the area earned him a yellow card as well as penalty to the host.
The penalty was converted by Dan Biton, who in the process became the first player ever to score a penalty in a Conference league game.
Fastest Goal
Dele Alli of Tottheham won and converted a penalty in the fourth minute of his side’s meeting with Mura. That is the fastest goal scored so far in the competition, shared with Lincoln Red FC defender Roy Chipolina’s own goal against København.
First Own-Goal
Rennes Defender Loic Bade became the first player to score an own goal in a Conference league game after deflecting Tottheham’s Lucas Moura cross past his own Goalkeeper in the 11th minute of their 2-2 draw in France.
First Red Card
Germany defender Paul Jaeckel was the first player to be given a matching orders after receiving a second yellow card in the 38th minute of Union Berlin’s 3-1 lost to Slavia Praha in Czech Republic.
First Brace
Denmark international Jonas Wind was the first player to score two goals in a Conference league game, starring in his side’s 3-1 win away to Slovan Bratislava.
The FC København striker gave his side the lead in the 18tth minute and sealed the game eight minutes after the hour mark to enter into history books.
First Hat-trick
Tottheham Hotspur captain Harry Kane enters into the historical books after scoring a hat-trick for his side against Slovenian side Mura in his cameo in the second group game.
The striker was subbed on in the 59th minute and score in the 68th, 76th and 87th minutes to complete a hat-trick that take him into the historical books.
The Englishman has also scored a hat-trick in the other two UEFA club competitions, the Europa league and the Champions league.
Afolabi Kehinde Hassan
