Striking star gains personal acclaim
Sunday, June 4, 2006
Article summary
Klaas Jan Huntelaar's first-half goals against Ukraine in Porto saw him leapfrog Denmark's Thomas Kahlenberg to become the leading scorer in Portugal.
Article body
Rapid fire
Huntelaar lay one behind Denmark forward Thomas Kahlenberg going into the final against Ukraine in Porto, alongside team-mate Nicky Hofs on two goals for the tournament. Indeed, it was Hofs that supplied his first goal at the Estádio do Bessa Século XXI on eleven minutes as the AFC Ajax man briefly sidled up alongside Kahlenberg, although he was soon striding out alone when he converted a penalty late in the first half.
Hofs joy
Ukraine's Artem Milevskiy and Ruslan Fomin had also started the day on two goals, and they were destined to remain there, but Hofs did add to his personal tally with a clinical finish late on to move second behind his team-mate. It completes a memorable double for Huntelaar after he finished as the ten-goal leading scorer in qualifying for these finals. Alberto Gilardino was the leading marksman when Italy lifted the U21 crown in Germany two years ago, with the AC Milan forward finding the net four times.
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