Osimhen Shines as Galatasaray Crushes Ajax in Champions League
Victor Osimhen delivered a masterclass performance, scoring a hat-trick as Galatasaray inflicted a heavy 3-0 defeat on Ajax in their Champions League clash. The Nigerian striker's heroics condemned Ajax to their fourth consecutive loss in the competition, leaving them languishing at the bottom of their group.
The match, played at the Johan Cruijff Arena, saw Ajax hold firm in the first half, largely thanks to the heroics of goalkeeper Remko Pasveer, who denied Osimhen on multiple occasions. However, Pasveer's resistance was broken in the 59th minute when Osimhen headed home a cross from Leroy Sane, leaving defender Josip Sutalo in his wake.
Ajax's woes deepened as Galatasaray were awarded two penalties, both for handball offences. Osimhen coolly converted both spot-kicks, completing his hat-trick and securing a resounding victory for the Turkish side. The first penalty was awarded after a VAR review showed the ball deflecting off Youri Baas' leg and onto his arm, while the second was conceded by Anton Gaaei.
With this hat-trick, Osimhen reached 25 goals in European competitions, surpassing Obafemi Martins as Nigeria's all-time top scorer in Europe. He also leads the Champions League goalscoring charts this season, ahead of stars like Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappe.
The defeat leaves Ajax with a dismal record of four losses in four Champions League games, with a goal difference of -13. Galatasaray, on the other hand, climbed to ninth in their domestic league, closing in on a coveted top-eight spot that guarantees automatic qualification for the knockout stages.
Key Moments:
- 59th minute: Osimhen heads in the opener.
- Penalty 1: Converted by Osimhen after VAR review.
- Penalty 2: Osimhen completes his hat-trick.