ISTANBUL 

Sebastian Haller netted four goals as Ajax hammered Sporting Lisbon 5-1 in their opening game of the UEFA Champions League Group C on Wednesday night.

Haller became the first player to score four goals on his Champions League debut since Dutch legend Marco van Basten for AC Milan back in 1992.

The Ivorian striker scored twice in the opening 10 minutes before hosts Sporting pulled one back through Paulinho.

Steven Berghuis restored Ajax’s two-goal cushion heading into the break, with Haller grabbing a brace in the second period to complete the rout.

In Wednesday’s other Group C game, Turkish side Besiktas lost 2-1 to Borussia Dortmund in Istanbul.​​​​​​​