Osimhen set new record with Champions League hat-trick

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen delivered a stunning performance on Wednesday, scoring a brilliant hat-trick to lead Galatasaray to a decisive 3-0 victory over Ajax in the Champions League at the Johan Cruijff ArenA.

The treble elevated Osimhen’s goal count in the competition to six, placing him at the summit of the Champions League’s top scorer list.

He had previously found the net twice against Bodo/Glimt and scored the crucial winner against English champions Liverpool.

Following a tense and scoreless first half, Osimhen broke the deadlock in the 59th minute. The forward connected perfectly with a precise cross from Leroy Sané, powering a diving header past Ajax goalkeeper Remko Pasveer.

Just minutes later, Galatasaray’s lead was doubled. Osimhen stepped up to the penalty spot after Youri Baas was called for a handball in the box, a decision confirmed by VAR. The striker made no mistake, calmly converting the spot-kick.

Osimhen completed his memorable hat-trick in the 78th minute with another penalty, awarded after substitute Gerald Alders also handled the ball inside the area. The emphatic goal secured Galatasaray’s most significant European victory of the season.

With this win, the Turkish giants now have nine points from their first four matches, marking their strongest-ever start to a Champions League campaign and putting them in a commanding position to qualify for the round of 16.

In stark contrast, Ajax remains at the bottom of the group, having now suffered four consecutive defeats in the tournament.

The historic treble makes Osimhen only the second player in Galatasaray’s history to score a hat-trick in the Champions League, emulating the feat achieved by Burak Yilmaz in 2012.

Galatasaray will face Belgian side Union St. Gilloise, while Ajax will continue their search for a first win against Jose Mourinho’s Benfica.