Guinea-Bissau striker Franculino Djú scores a hat-trick in Midtjylland's lopsided victory

FC Midtjylland/Facebook

Guinea-Bissau national team striker Franculino Djú awoke from a five-match scoring drought to score a hat-trick and lead FC Midtjylland to a 5-0 thrashing of FC Nordsjælland in Sunday's Danish Superliga clash.

The 20-year-old former Benfica youth product returned to the starting lineup on Sunday in a move that paid off big time for Midtjylland coach Thomas Thomasberg. The Bissau native scored three goals in a little over twenty minutes as the hosts marched out to a 4-0 halftime lead in the Championship Group match.

Franculino was substituted out for Zambia national team attacker Edward Chilufya in the 66th minute to complete a Man of the Match performance. After losing to Nordsjælland five days earlier in a result that cost them top spot, revenge was sweet for Midtjylland who are only one point back of Superliga leaders FC Copenhagen.

Four matches remain including a massive test away at Copenhagen on May 11. Before the potential title-decider, Midtjylland will host sixth place AGF Aarhus next Sunday.

Franculino continues to show that he is a young striker to watch in European football who could be destined for a move to one of the continent's top leagues. After scoring 11 goals in 27 matches in his first season in Denmark, Franculino now has 10 goals in 24 games. He also has represented Guinea-Bissau twelve times with one goal.