As Ajax demolish Dortmund, Haller scores his sixth UCL goal.
With three wins in three European games, Ajax are on track to reach the last 16, and Haller remains the competition's top scorer after scoring their fourth goal of the night with a precise header.
Ajax grabbed clear control of their group with a brutal showing at home on Tuesday, routing Borussia Dortmund 4-0. Sebastien Haller scored his sixth Champions League goal in three games as Ajax took firm control of their group with a merciless effort at home.
With three wins in three European games, Ajax are on track to reach the last 16, and Haller remains the competition’s top scorer after scoring their fourth goal of the night with a precise header.
Last month, the Ivory Coast forward scored four goals in his Champions League debut against Sporting Lisbon, and he later scored against Besiktas.
The result puts the Dutch champions in first place in Group C, three points ahead of Dortmund, who had won their previous two games.
Ajax coach Erik ten Hag told Amazon Prime, “We produced a tremendous performance and played some incredible football.”
“When two teams with this attitude desire to attack like that, it turns into a free-for-all, which we won.”
Ajax dominated in Amsterdam, scoring twice in the first half thanks to an own goal by Dortmund captain Marco Reus and a fantastic shot by Daley Blind.
Antony, a Brazilian winger for Ajax, added a third goal for the hosts with a looping drive into the corner, before Haller’s header completed the rout of Dortmund.
After Dortmund’s biggest Champions League defeat, Reus confessed glumly, “Ajax was just the better team.”
“The first goal was due to a blunder on my part; I miscalculated the delivery.”
Despite efforts to send the ball to their top scorer Erling Braut Haaland, the German club hardly got out of their half.
There were hints of what was to come when Mats Hummels saved a shot by Antony with amazing timing, and Blind forced a great save from Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
Dusan Tadic’s free-kick gave the hosts the lead after 11 minutes, and Reus watched in horror as his attempt to clear the ball flew past Kobel and into the Dortmund net.
With 25 minutes gone, the hosts increased their lead when Haller sent the ball to Blind, who scored his first Ajax goal in a year.
Only a magnificent performance by Kobel prevented Ajax from taking a bigger advantage into the half-time break, as they led 2-0.
After Ajax goalkeeper Remko Pasveer parried Haaland’s attempt, Dortmund’s greatest chance came early in the second half when he rattled the crossbar.
Antony had enough room to curl his shot into the top corner as Ajax scored their third goal towards the hour mark.
When Haaland had a clear chance in the area, only to be denied by Pasveer’s brilliant save, it summed up Dortmund’s night.
When Haller was left unguarded 18 minutes from time to head in Ajax’s fourth goal, the game became a rout, delighting the raucous home fans in Amsterdam.
