Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez scored a "perfect hat trick" for Bayer Leverkusen including the stoppage-time winner in their 3-2 victory over Mainz at the weekend.
Bayer Leverkusen were headed for their third defeat of the season at Mainz until midway through the second half when Hernandez, 28, with his second goal of the day made it 2-2 and a minute into stoppage time completed his hat trick with a header.
"I have never seen a player who is as good as him in front of the goal," Germany international Kevin Volland said of his teammate after the match.
Hernandez scored the first goal when picking up a ball after Mainz defender Stefan Bell misjudged a long ball, and added the second with a deflected right-footed shot. He sneaked into position for the third and final goal of the day, and headed the ball into the net from close range.
"That's just him. If he has chances, he takes the shot and there is a good chance he will score," coach Roger Schmidt said.
The Mexico international now has 21 goals in 32 league games for Leverkusen since joining from Manchester United last summer.
"It was a perfect hat trick," Hernandez said after the match. "I scored with my left, with my right, and with my head."
"...the perfect hat-trick." - @CH14_
✅Right foot
✅Left foot
✅Header#M05B04 | 2:3 pic.twitter.com/w7hixqb6RI- Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) September 24, 2016
Following a difficult first half, Leverkusen turned the match around in the final 45 minutes. The Champions League participants had 11 attempts, while Mainz did not record a single shot at Bayer keeper Bernd Leno's goal.
"We were very intense in the second half. We created a lot of chances. We defended really well. We were very focused," Hernandez said. "And we kept going until the 90th minute."
Hernandez scored the 67th-minute equaliser only minutes after veteran attacker Stefan Kiessling came off the bench. The 32-year-old won a header in Mainz's box and brought the ball to Hernandez.
Kiessling was also involved in the build-up to the 91st minute winner, when his run pulled a defender away from the Mexican.
"It did Chicharito really well to have a second striker next to him," Schmidt said.