Dramatic: Boniface wins it late for Leverkusen against Wolfsburg
Bayer 04 Leverkusen pulled off an incredible 4-3 victory over VfL Wolfsburg, coming from behind twice in a thrilling Bundesliga match with Nigeria striker Victor Boniface sealing the win with a dramatic stoppage-time goal for the reigning champions, Nigeriasoccernet.com writes.
The BayArena was electric as Leverkusen, the defending Bundesliga champions, faced off against Wolfsburg on Matchday 4. Making several adjustments from their midweek Champions League triumph, Leverkusen included Patrik Schick in the starting lineup in place of Boniface.
The action kicked off at an intense pace, with Wolfsburg shocking the home crowd in the 5th minute through Mohamed Amoura. The visitors' early pressure paid dividends, but Leverkusen quickly responded in style.
Just nine minutes later, Florian Wirtz equalized with a superb finish from the edge of the box and set the stage for a thrilling contest.
As the first half progressed, Leverkusen began to take control of the game. Their relentless pressure was rewarded in the 32nd minute when Jonathan Tah headed in from a corner to give the hosts a 2-1 lead. The BayArena erupted in celebration, but Wolfsburg wasn’t ready to give up.
Only five minutes after Tah's goal, Sebastiaan Bornauw silenced the crowd with a powerful header from a corner, leveling the score once again. The back-and-forth nature of the game continued, and right before halftime, Mattias Svanberg delivered a moment of brilliance. The Swedish midfielder weaved through Leverkusen’s defense and unleashed a stunning long-range strike, sending Wolfsburg into halftime with a 3-2 lead.
Xabi Alonso’s halftime pep talk seemed to have worked wonders, as Leverkusen emerged for the second half with renewed energy. His substitutions made an immediate difference, particularly Piero Hincapie. Just four minutes after the break, the Ecuadorian defender rose to meet a corner and headed the ball home, tying the match at 3-3.
With the game hanging in the balance, the final minutes delivered even more drama. The home side increased their pressure, relentlessly searching for a winning goal. Their efforts were rewarded breathtakingly during the third minute of stoppage time. Victor Boniface, coming off the bench, created a moment of brilliance. With his back to goal, the Nigerian forward expertly turned and unleashed a precise low shot that nestled into the bottom corner. The BayArena erupted in celebration.
It was a perfect conclusion to a thrilling match, highlighting Leverkusen’s resilience and their ability to deliver when it matters most.
They face Bayern Munich this weekend at the Allianz Arena as they continue the push to defend their league title.
Oluwayemi Omolagba
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