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Victor Osimhen scored a hat-trick as Galatasaray handed Ajax their fourth straight defeat in the Champions League this season.
The Nigeria striker took his European tally to six goals this term as he opened the scoring in the 59th minute before firing home two from the penalty spot.
With his hat-trick, Osimhen reached 25 goals in European competition and overtook former Inter Milan and Newcastle forward Obafemi Martins to become Nigeria’s all-time top scorer in Europe.
The 26-year-old is the top scorer in the league phase of the Champions League this term, one goal ahead of Harry Kane, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.
Ajax had entered half-time on level terms thanks to goalkeeper Remko Pasveer, who made two brilliant saves to stop Osimhen.
But Pasveer could do little to hold him back after the restart, with Osimhen racing in front of defender Josip Sutalo to head home Leroy Sane’s cross.
Ajax’s evening went from bad to worse when the referee awarded the Turkish side two penalties – both for handball offences.
Osimhen effortlessly slotted in the first, which had been given after a video assistant referee (VAR) review showed the ball ricocheting off the leg of Youri Baas and on to the Dutchman’s arm.
And he made no mistake with the second spot-kick, conceded by Anton Gaaei, as he blasted his strike into the top-right corner.
The result leaves Ajax rooted to the bottom of the table, with the Dutch side having lost all four of their Champions League games by an aggregate score of 14-1.
Galatasaray, meanwhile, moved up to ninth and closed in on a place in the top eight, where teams seal automatic progress to the knockout round. (BBC,
