Former Simba star Leonel Ateba scores hat-trick in Iraq

Former Simba SC star Leonel Ateba opened his account in Iraqi football on Thursday with a hat-trick as the reigning Iraq Stars League champions won 3-0 against Al Karkh.

After eight matches without a goal to begin his spell at the Iraqi champions, the Cameroonian was the Man of the Match as Al Shorta maintined their pace in second place. Ateba put the hosts ahead in the 28th minute with a left-footed finish to give his team the halftime advantage.

The final twenty minutes saw Ateba complete his hat-trick. Controlling the ball in the Al Karkh penalty area in the 75th minute, the forward fired in a low finish with his right foot. With the match well in hand ten minutes later, Ateba went around the goalkeeper for an easy finish.

After featuring for Al Shorta in the AFC Champions League Elite as well as five matches in the Iraq Stars League, Thursday marked a major breakthrough for the Cameroonian with his first club outside Africa. He previously was an important member of the Simba SC team that reached the CAF Confederation Cup final last season.

The 26-year-old and Al Shorta return to continental action next Tuesday with a very difficult test against Saudi giants Al Hilal in Riyadh. Al Shorta have only one point from four matches in the AFC Champions League Elite so far.