Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface proved to be Leverkusen’s hero once again, coming off the bench to score the decisive goal in extra time as his side secured a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory over FC Cologne in their DFB-Pokal quarter-final clash at the BayArena on Wednesday.
The away side took a commanding 2-0 lead, with Damion Downs finding the back of the net in added time of the first half, before his strike partner Linton Maina doubled their advantage just nine minutes into the second half.
In-form Patrik Schick spearheaded Leverkusen's fightback, scoring a crucial brace in the 61st and 96th minutes to level the game and send it into extra time.
Boniface, who replaced Exequiel Palacios in the 76th minute, made an immediate impact, scoring in the early minutes of extra time following a precise assist from Alex Grimaldo.
His goal sealed the victory for Leverkusen, sending them through to the semi-finals.
Boniface’s impactful cameo: Stats that show his crucial role
Victor Boniface made a significant impact during his cameo in Leverkusen’s DFB-Pokal quarter-final clash against FC Cologne. With one shot on target resulting in a goal, Boniface demonstrated clinical precision.
The 24-year-old also completed one successful dribble out of two attempts, showing his ability to break through defenses. His 20 touches were paired with a pass accuracy rate of 67%, including one key pass.
Dominating aerial duels, he won two out of four, while also securing one out of two ground duels. Boniface’s all-around contribution was key to Leverkusen's thrilling comeback.
Wednesday's goal marked the Nigeria international's second in two games since his return from injury, having found the net just days earlier against Hoffenheim.
