Ajax suffer historic seventh straight European defeat with 3–0 loss to Galatasaray
Ajax’s dismal season continued on Wednesday night when they were beaten 3-0 by Galatasaray in the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam. Victor Osimhen scored a hat trick for the Turkish side, leaving Ajax still without a point after four games in the competition.
It is the first time in the club’s history that they have lost seven consecutive European games. They are also just the third Dutch side ever to lose their first four games of a Champions League campaign after Willem II in the 1999-2000 season and Feyenoord in 2017-18.
Ajax started the game with Davy Klaassen in the midfield. Other changes were also made with Jorthy Mokio, Anton Gaaei, and Josip Sutalo coming into the side. They replaced Lucas Rosa, Ko Itakura, and Kenneth Taylor.
Galatasaray’s danger came from the striker they spent 75 million euros on last summer, Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian kept the ball up three times in the box before unleashing a volley at goal, which Remko Pasveer parried.
And he came close again in the 18th minute when he showed his athletic prowess with a fantastic leap to nod the ball towards the corner, but Pasveer saved the attempt once again.
Ajax started to gain a foothold in the game midway through the first half. They came somewhat close to a goal when Oscar Gloukh hit a volley, in a similar vein to the goal he scored against FC Twente the other week, just wide of the goal.
The away side took the lead in the 59th minute. A cross from Leroy Sane was converted by Osimhen when the striker got to the ball before Pasveer.
This started the downfall for the Amsterdammers. Galatasaray were awarded a penalty in the 64th minute. A cross was deflected off of Youri Baas’ knee onto his arm, which led to the referee awarding the penalty after a VAR review. Osimhen dispatched the penalty with confidence to make it 2-0 for the Turkish side.
Ajax had a huge chance to get back into the game in the 70th minute. Goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır came out of his goal to clear a long ball, but missed it completely, giving Mika Godts an open goal to convert. But the Belgian winger dragged it wide with his weaker left foot.
Galatasaray’s evening was made even easier in the 76th minute when they were awarded another contentious penalty. A shot from Burak Alper Yilmaz hit the midriff and then the arm of young Ajax defender Gerald Alders. This gave Osimhen the chance to secure his hat trick, which he took with gusto.
It was almost 4-0 in injury time. Team captain Mauro Icardi had come on to replace Osimhen in the closing stages, and the Argentinian almost got on the scoresheet with an effort from an acute angle which hit the post before coming out onto the pitch.
There were whistles from the Ajax fans at full-time. The latest defeat will have done nothing to ease the pressure on the manager, John Heitinga. Ajax have scored just once in the competition while conceding 14 goals in four games.
