MOTHERWELL, Scotland — Canada captain Scott Arfield scored his first professional hat trick in Rangers’ 3-0 win at Motherwell in Scottish Premiership play Sunday.
Arfield, who has one goal in 13 appearances for Canada, scored twice in the first half and once in the second.
"It means a lot and to do it for a club this size in front of the travelling support at a place like this," Arfield, who played in a more advanced midfield role, told Rangers TV.
Former Toronto FC striker Jermain Defoe could have scored the third himself but passed to Arfield to complete the hat-trick.
"He’s been excellent," Rangers manager Steven Gerrard said of the 30-year-old Arfield. "He and Jermain epitomize what it should be like to be a professional footballer, because the standards on and off the pitch are excellent."
Arfield exited the game to a standing ovation after 71 minutes.
The Scottish-born Arfield, a native of Livingston, qualifies to play for Canada through his Toronto-born father. Arfield’s grandfather was in the military and was briefly stationed in Canada.
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