Bayern thrash Ajax as Makaay nets hat-trick

Bayern Munich's Dutch striker Roy Makaay hit a hat-trick as they romped to a 4-0 victory over Ajax Amsterdam in Champions League Group C on Tuesday.

Makaay fired Bayern into the lead after 28 minutes, running on to a long pass over the top from England midfielder Owen Hargreaves before controlling sublimely and blasting the ball past Ajax goalkeeper Bogdan Lobont from 25 metres.

The Dutchman doubled their lead in the 44th, glancing in a header from a curled Ze Roberto free kick on the right.

He completed his hat-trick early in the second half, slotting home from the penalty spot after Lobont clumsily brought down Peru international Claudio Pizarro.

Makaay turned provider in the 55th minute, laying a first time ball into the path of Ze Roberto for the Brazilian to slide a left-foot shot past the helpless Lobont from close range.

The Dutch striker, whose penalty secured Bayern's 1-0 win at Maccabi Tel-Aviv two weeks ago, has now scored nine of his club's last 10 goals in the Champions League and has netted in their last seven matches in any competition.

Bayern coach Felix Magath heaped praise on the prolific Netherlands forward, who was playing his first match against Dutch opponents in European club competition.

"What Roy Makaay did was sensational," Magath told reporters. "Not only his goals but also the play leading up to them were superb and alone worth tonight's entrance fee."

Bayern, European champions in 2001, have had a mixed start to the season but came into Tuesday's match on the back of a 3-1 win against SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga at the weekend.

"This result is proof that we have come on in the last few weeks and we showed what we are capable of," Magath said. "I knew that at some point things would take off for us."

The German side now top the Group C standings with Juventus after two wins while Ajax are yet to get a point following their 1-0 home defeat against the Italians two weeks ago.

Although at times Ronald Koeman's Ajax side looked dangerous on the break, Bayern were on top for most of the match and several times threatened to extend their lead even further. "It was decisive that we had the speedy Ajax forwards under control," Magath said. "We were a compact unit and as a result we could control the game."

Koeman admitted that Ajax, who once turned down the chance to sign Makaay, did not have the quality to compete with a slick Bayern side. He was also full of praise for Makaay.

"We have known about his quality in Holland for a long time and tonight he demonstrated it," Koeman told reporters.

"He's a fantastic player for Bayern," he added.

Makaay said before the match he didn't feel any pressure to try to boost his chances of winning a regular place in the Netherlands team by performing well against his countrymen.

Before Tuesday's victory, Bayern had managed just two wins in their last eight Champions League games at home.