Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen delivered a sensational performance on Wednesday night, scoring his first-ever hat-trick for Galatasaray as the Turkish giants condemned Ajax to their fourth straight Champions League defeat of the season.
Osimhen opened the scoring in the 59th minute and later converted two penalties, taking his tally in this season’s European campaign to six goals.
The milestone night also saw Osimhen reach 25 goals in European competitions, surpassing former Inter Milan and Newcastle United striker Obafemi Martins to become Nigeria’s all-time leading scorer in European club football history.
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.
Galatasary, meanwhile, move up to ninth and close in on a place in the top eight, where teams seal automatic progress to the knockout rounds.