Champions League: Prolific Sebastien Haller scores at both ends as Ajax draw with Benfica

Champions League, finding the target at the right end shortly after putting through his own net as Ajax drew 2-2 with Benfica in their last 16, first leg on Wednesday. Haller's 26th-minute own goal cancelled out Dusan Tadic's opener for the Dutch champions at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, but the Ivory Coast striker then put Ajax back in front just three minutes later. It was not enough for Erik ten Hag's side to win the game, as Ukraine international Roman Yaremchuk came off the bench in the second half to earn Benfica a deserved draw. However, Haller has now scored 11 goals in this season's Champions League after ending the group stage in double figures. "We are a bit frustrated. We could and should have done better and we are a bit disappointed to leave here having drawn 2-2," Haller told French broadcaster Canal Plus.

Of his own goal, he added: "It's not the best feeling, especially as it gave them the equaliser and gave them a lift. "It was a blow to our morale but it is our job to remain focused, to not let our heads go down in such a situation." Having never played in the competition before this season, Haller is the first player to score in each of his first seven Champions League appearances. Only Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski and Ruud van Nistelrooy have scored in more consecutive Champions League matches, with Ronaldo doing so in 11 straight games between 2017 and 2018. The former West Ham United man is also just the second Ajax player to score 11 goals in Europe in the same season, after Ruud Geels in 1975/76.

However, with UEFA having abolished the away goals rule in Europe, the tie remains firmly in the balance going into the return leg in Amsterdam on March 15. Ajax took the lead in the 18th