Haller's 26th-minute very own aim cancelled out Dusan Tadic's opener for the Dutch champions on the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, but the Ivory Coast striker then put Ajax returned in the front just 3 mins later.
It become now not enough for Erik ten Hag's facet to win the sport, as Ukraine global Roman Yaremchuk got here off the bench in the 2d 1/2 to earn Benfica a deserved draw.
However, Haller has now scored eleven dreams in this season's Champions League after ending the institution level in double figures.
Having never performed within the opposition before this season, he's the primary participant to score in each of his first seven Champions League appearances.
Only Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski and Ruud van Nistelrooy have scored in extra consecutive Champions League matches, with Ronaldo doing so in 11 straight video games between 2017 and 2018.
The former West Ham United man is likewise just the second one Ajax player to score 11 dreams in Europe in the same season, after Ruud Geels in 1975-76.
However, with UEFA having abolished the away dreams rule in Europe, the tie stays firmly in the stability going into the return leg in Amsterdam on March 15th.
Ajax took the lead in the 18th minute in this meeting of golf equipment with six European Cups between them way to a fine finish from skipper Tadic.
Alex Grimaldo lost possession under stress from Noussair Mazraoui who then brought a measured move from the Ajax right for Tadic to attain with a cushioned first-time finish for his 10th aim of the season.
