Victor Osimhen scores hat-trick as Galatasaray beat Ajax

●Overtakes Obafemi Martins as Nigeria’s all-time top scorer in Europe

Victor Osimhen scored a hat-trick on Wednesday night as Galatasaray beat Ajax in their Champions League fixture. The loss becomes the fourth straight defeat in the Champions League for the Dutch club this season.

The Nigerian took his European tally to six goals this season as he opened the scoring just before the hour and then 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.

In the match in Amsterdam on Wednesday night, 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 helped Galatasary move up to ninth and close in on a place in the top eight, where teams seal automatic progress to the knockout rounds. It leaves Ajax rooted to the bottom of the table.