Canada stalwart, Besiktas legend Atiba Hutchinson scores, assists three goals

In case you were wondering, longtime Canada national team stalwart and Besiktas star Atiba Hutchinson still has it.


The 36-year-old midfield general took advantage of his club's numerical advantage on Friday to involve himself in every goal of a 4-1 league victory over Glencerberligi on Friday evening.


Besiktas entered halftime trailing 1-0 despite seeing their opponents reduced to nine men before the break. But Hutchinson's class — in the form of three assists and a goal — turned the match around.


It began with his clever near-post flick-on from a corner kick, which set up Croatian international Vida's volley over the line. Hutchinson followed that with a sumptuous first-touch volley that played Georges-Kevin Nkoudou into space for a go-ahead chip, then a slightly easier feed to Oguzan Oyakup to make it 3-1. 



To seal it in second-half stoppage time, Hutchinson again popped up at the near post on a corner kick, this time heading his effort between the goalkeeper and the front stick.


Hutchinson is in his seventh season with Besiktas after an impressive European career that has also included stops at PSV Eindhoven, FC Copenhagen and Helsingborg.


The Ontario native is tied for second in Canada national team history with 84 caps. He has occasionally been linked to an MLS move, most recently to Montreal a couple seasons ago.