JUSTIN KLUIVERT fired three glorious examples of why many are are tipping the teenage Ajax striker to match dad Patrick’s legendary career
Kluivert Jr glided through for a confident hat-trick, including a sensational long-ranger. as the Dutch giants came from behind to beat Roda JC 5-1.
Former Holland, Milan and Barcelona striker Patrick never managed a treble in the Dutch flight.
And in fact 18-year-old son Justin had failed to score in his previous eight Eredivisie games this season.
This time, though, he showed balance, swagger and calmness way beyond his years to net one of the most exciting triples seen anywhere in Europe this term.
He snaked in from the left before opening up his body to stroke an equaliser on 45 minutes.
Then on the hour Kluivert wafted forward from the touchline, just inside the Roda half, cut inside at pace and flashed home a 25-yarder.
Five minutes from time he mesmerised the Roda defence as he rolled the ball around with his studs, before dinking in for another firm, precision finish.
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All three of Kluivert’s goals nestled inside the far corner.
And all three were worthy of winning a match on their own.
Kluivert Jr told De Telegraf earlier this year: “My dad scored the winning goal in the Champions League final when he was 18, so I have a long way to go.”
He said of his Ajax career: “I want to be the best for a couple of seasons, score a few goals more than my dad and then I will think about a transfer.”
Nonetheless, for all his promise and supreme ambition, Kluivert Jr would surely be delighted if he could merely match the achievements of his dad.
Patrick really launched his career in 1995 when bagging the only goal as a late Ajax substitute in the Champions League final against Milan.
And he went on to notch 40 goals in 79 games for Holland.
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He scored against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup quarter-finals and against Brazil in a last-four tie that the all-star Dutch lost on penalties.
Kluivert then shared the Golden Boot award at Euro 2000, with five strikes from as many games.
Club-wise, he shone for Ajax, spent a modest season with Milan, hit 90 goals in 182 games for Barcelona and had spells with Newcastle, Valencia, PSV Eindhoven and Lille.
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