Ivorian international Sebastien Haller has made history as the first player to score in his first six Champions League games. Haller scored from the penalty spot as Ajax, who have already qualified into the next stage, beat Sporting Lisbon 4-2 on Tuesday. The former West Ham United player is only the second player after Cristiano Ronaldo to score in all six group games in a single Champions League season.
Sebastien Haller Becomes First African to Score in all Grop Games of UCL
Ronaldo scored in all six group games for Real Madrid in 2017-18. Haller now has ten goals in this season’s Champions League, and only Ronaldo, with 11 in 2015-16, has a better record than him. The 27-year-old striker has passed Alessandro del Piero (Juventus, 1995-96), Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid, 2013-14) and Erling Braut Haaland (RB Salzburg, 2019-20). They all scored in their first five Champions League games with the record.
After his penalty gave Ajax an early lead, Sporting equalised through Nuno Santos in the 22nd minute. But Brazilian star winger Antony restored the Dutch side’s lead before the first 45 minutes of the game. Ajax number seven-man David Neres then extended their advantage after 58 minutes before Steven Berghuis added the fourth. Still, Sporting got a late consolation when Bruno Tabata’s thunderous side-footed shot crashed home off the underside of the bar.
Ajax topped Group C with a maximum of 18 points. At the same time, the Portuguese champions, who had already been confirmed runners-up, finished with nine, using the last group match to give several young players a first run-out in European competition.
