Nigerian striker Victor Boniface was the hero for Bayer Leverkusen as they staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Koln 3-2 in the DFB Pokal quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Boniface, who came off the bench in the 76th minute, scored the winning goal in the 98th minute, securing Leverkusen’s place in the semifinals.
The match was a thrilling encounter, with Koln taking a 2-0 lead through goals from Damion Downs and Linton Maina.
However, Leverkusen fought back, with Patrik Schick scoring twice to level the score at 2-2 and send the match into extra time.
Boniface’s goal in the 98th minute sealed the win for Leverkusen, who will now face Werder Bremen in the semifinals.
Boniface’s match-winning display drew widespread praise from fans and pundits, particularly from Nigerian football supporters.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria hailed Boniface on social media, tweeting: “Super Sub Victor Boniface came off the bench to grab the winner for Leverkusen against Koln in the DFB-Pokal last night.”
Coach Xabi Alonso commended the team’s resilience, stating: “It was a very tough game against a very good opponent. But we showed a good reaction. It was maybe not our best game, but we played with a big heart and fought until the last minute.”
Boniface’s goal against Koln was his second in back-to-back games for Leverkusen, and he will look to continue his scoring form in the semifinals.
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