Boniface’s labour in vain as wasteful Leverkusen get taste of their own medicine

Published on by Akawor Chichetam

Victor Boniface added yet another goal to his season tally, but Bayer Leverkusen failed to hold their lead as they drew 2-2 against Bundesliga newcomers Holstein Kiel at the Bay Arena on Saturday.

The Super Eagles forward opened the scoring just four minutes into the game, picking up a clever pass from Exequiel Palacios and calmly placing the ball into the centre of the net.

His clinical finish marked his fourth league goal this season and set the game rolling for what seemed like a promising day for the Nigerian.

Boniface's labour in vain as wasteful Leverkusen get taste of their own medicine
Photo by Imago

Boniface almost doubled his tally three minutes later with a well-placed shot, but Kiel's goalkeeper Timon Weiner pulled off a superb save.

Boniface's impact & disallowed goal marred by defensive lapses

Soon after, Jonas Hofmann converted a pass from Palacios to make it 2-0 for the home side.

Leverkusen thought they had gone 3-0 up when Boniface found the back of the net again after 26 minutes, but VAR ruled it offside, much to the disappointment of the home crowd. 

Just before halftime, Holstein Kiel pulled one back when Max Geschwill headed in from a corner, giving the visitors hope as they entered the break. 

Leverkusen’s grip on the game further slipped in the second half when Jann-Fiete Arp scored from the penalty spot to level the scores.

Despite dominating possession and creating chances, Leverkusen couldn’t regain control.

Before being subbed off in the 70th minute, the 23-year-old Nigerian forward made 11 touches of the ball inside the opponent's penalty area. He took three shots, two of which were on target. 

Boniface's labour in vain as wasteful Leverkusen get taste of their own medicine
Photo by Imago

He also created one scoring opportunity and made two ball recoveries, but his team’s inability to finish the job left them with just one point as the match ended in a 2-2 draw.

The draw leaves Leverkusen winless in two straight matches, following last week's 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich.

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Akawor Chichetam

Akawor Chichetam is a dedicated sports journalist with a passion for football, both as a player and as a writer.

A proud member of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Chichetam has made significant contributions to renowned media platforms, including Elegbete TV, Footballrover, and Football411.

Known for insightful commentary and engaging content, Akawor brings a unique perspective to the world of sports journalism, combining a love for the game with a deep understanding of its details.