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Monday, July 28, 2008, 09:17
The towering striker provided more excitement in three minutes at the Alexandra Stadium than Crewe mustered during the entire goalless draw at Wrexham last week.
His two quickfire goals were the catalyst for a dominant first-half display, which belied Crewe's status as two divisions below newly-promoted Hull.
More drama followed as the visitors missed a penalty, then conceded two more to allow Nicky Maynard and Zola to compound their misery.
But despite the surprise margin of victory, Crewe coach Steve Holland insisted he wouldn't read too much into the result.
Hull's utterly inept first-half display made a mockery of any pre-match forecast that they would provide a big test.
And while Zola has rightly grabbed the headlines, Tigers defender Bernard Mendy had such a shocker that he almost stole the limelight for all the wrong reasons.
The Frenchman, a free transfer from Paris Saint Germain, was at fault for Crewe's first goal, missed a penalty, then conceded two spot-kicks, all in an appalling first half.
Crewe had lined up with Zola partnering Maynard for the first time, while striker Anthony Elding was given the afternoon off after signing from Leeds United on Thursday.
Danny Woodards returned at right-back to gain match fitness, while youngster James Bailey got the nod in central midfield.
Hull started with Hungarian Peter Halmosi, a £2m signing from Plymouth, and ex-Middlesbrough midfielder George Boateng.
The match kicked off in glorious sunshine, and Crewe took a surprise lead before the crowd were settled in their seats.
Eugen Bopp floated a ball in for Joel Grant who, under little pressure from Mendy, found Zola with his pass to convert from close range.
Hull's shell-shocked defence had no time to reorganise before Zola's brilliant second in the third minute.
Zola gathered from Baudet's long ball, took a few strides, then drilled a pinpoint strike past keeper Boaz Myhill.
It was a truly pulsating start, with Zola surpassing all expectations, while Hull were in a total mess.
A brief lull ensued as both teams caught their breath, but the game sparked again 12 minutes later when Baudet was harshly judged to have shoved Nicky Barmby in the box. Mendy stepped up for the penalty, but keeper Steve Collis easily saved his weak effort.
At the other end, Maynard stole the ball off the dithering Ian Ashbee and had a snap shot that narrowly cleared the bar.
With Zola looking dominant in the air, and providing a good link-up with Maynard, Michael O'Connor then went close with a fierce strike.
On 39 minutes, good interplay between Maynard and Bopp resulted in Mendy conceding a penalty with a poor challenge.
Maynard duly made it 3-0 with an unstoppable effort.
And just before the break, Mendy was clumsy again on Maynard in the box.
Maynard gave Zola the chance to complete his hat-trick from the spot... and the Congolese player made no mistake.
Unsurprisingly, Hull boss Phil Brown left Mendy on the sidelines after the break – and elected to swap his entire side.
Meanwhile, Holland had seen enough from Zola to replace him with trialist Eddie Johnson.
With Brazilian Geovanni pulling the strings in Hull's midfield, Brown's side looked slightly better without really penetrating Crewe's rearguard.
Zola's exit – and a raft of changes that followed – meant Crewe lost their attacking edge and the tempo became more typical of a pre-season friendly.
Early shots rained in from Geovanni, Dean Windass, and Dean Marney, but they were either off target or straight at Collis.
On 65 minutes, Bailey floated a lovely pass to Bopp on the right and, from his cross, Maynard struck well wide after his first shot was blocked.
With less then 10 minutes left, Michael Turner headed over from Bryan Hughes's cross.
And with time running out, Craig Fagan forced an acrobatic save from Collis, who kept a deserved clean sheet.
Crewe Alex: Collis, Woodards (Abbey, 68), Jones, McCready, Baudet (O'Donnell, 68), Bailey (Rix, 68), O'Connor (Carrington, 77), Bopp (Moore, 61), Grant (Clements, 68), Maynard, Zola (Johnson, 45). Subs not used: Legzdins, Daniel, Pope, Miller.
Hull City: Myhill, Mendy, Doyle, Cooper, Brown, Ashbee, Boateng, Halmosi, Garcia, Barmby, Folan. Subs: Duke, Turner, Fagan, Ricketts, Marney, Featherstone, Plummer, France, Geovanni, Hughes, Windass.
POSING PROBLEMS: Crewe hat-trick hero Calvin Zola challenges Hull's Wayne Brown for the ball. Photos: ALEX SEVERN
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