The gangling striker made his maiden bow in the prestigious UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night but was powerless to help his club Genk avoid an embarrassing 6-2 defeat to Salzburg in Austria.

Nigeria international Paul Onuachu played the last five minutes of the encounter as Genk were beaten black and blue by Salzburg on match day 1 of the new European season.

An incredibly entertaining game of football saw Salzburg start their Champions League campaign in style with a superb victory over Genk at the Red Bull Arena.

Haland beat Coucke from close range after just two minutes to open the scoring for the hosts. Half an hour later, Salzburg were two goals up, Haland yet again finding the back of the net.

Hee-Chan made it three after 36 minutes, but Lucumi pulled one back just before the break when he headed Ndongala’s cross beyond Stankovic.

Haland grabbed his hat-trick soon afterwards to confirm their superiority over their guests. And with the referee ready to blow for halftime, Szoboszlai made it five to leave Genk with a mighty mountain to climb after the break.

Shortly after the restart, it momentarily appeared as though a comeback was on the offing as Samatta steered Bongonda’s cross beyond Stankovic.

But Salzburg  were not done and they completed the scoring on 66 minutes when Ulmer combined with Junuzovic to restore the hosts’ four goal cushion.

Onuachu was introduced with 85 minutes gone by which time it was game, set, and match to Salzburg.