Victor Osimhen produced a brilliant display as Galatasaray earned a historic UEFA Champions League victory over Ajax in Amsterdam — their first-ever win on Dutch soil.
The Nigerian striker’s hat-trick not only lifted the Turkish champions up the group table but also saw him set several new records on a memorable night.
Galatasaray started strongly, keeping Ajax pinned in their own half and creating early chances. Osimhen twice tested veteran goalkeeper Remko Pasveer in the opening 20 minutes — first with a powerful volley, then with a close-range header from a corner.
Ajax struggled to get into rhythm, with their only clear chance of the first half falling to Jorthy Mokio, whose shot drifted wide.
The breakthrough came shortly before the hour mark. Leroy Sané whipped in a perfect cross from the right, and Osimhen darted between defender Josip Sutalo and Pasveer to head home, giving Galatasaray a deserved lead. The goal extended Osimhen’s scoring run to eight consecutive UEFA club matches.
Minutes later, Galatasaray doubled their advantage. A cross into the Ajax box struck the arm of Youri Baas, and Osimhen calmly converted the resulting penalty. The goal made him the first Galatasaray player ever to score a brace in back-to-back Champions League games.
Ajax’s troubles worsened in the 78th minute when debutant Gerald Alders was penalised for another handball. Osimhen completed his hat-trick in style, sending Pasveer the wrong way to seal a famous win for the Turkish side.
The treble made Osimhen only the second Nigerian to score a hat-trick in the Champions League, after Yakubu Aiyegbeni’s feat with Maccabi Haifa in 2002.
It was also a record-breaking night for the Super Eagles star, whose 15th Champions League goal took his total tally in UEFA competitions to 25 — surpassing Obafemi Martins’ record of 23. He is now Nigeria’s all-time top scorer in European club football.
Osimhen’s stunning display earned him his third straight Man of the Match award in this season’s Champions League — another first for a Galatasaray player.
Substitute Mauro Icardi almost added a fourth late on, hitting the post, but the night clearly belonged to Osimhen. The forward now leads the Champions League scoring chart with six goals, despite missing the opening game of the campaign.
For Ajax, it was another disappointing evening. Four defeats from four have left them bottom of their group, with manager John Heitinga under growing pressure to turn things around.