Published 21:57 IST, September 22nd 2024
Bayer Leverkusen completes a 4-3 comeback win in stoppage time as Boniface sinks Wolfsburg
Victor Boniface's added-time goal lifted Bayer Leverkusen to a 4-3 comeback win over Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga on Sunday as the German champion produced another of its trademark late breakthroughs ahead of facing Bayern Munich next week.
Victor Boniface's added-time goal lifted Bayer Leverkusen to a 4-3 comeback win over Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga on Sunday as the German champion produced another of its trademark late breakthroughs ahead of facing Bayern Munich next week.
It seemed Xabi Alonso's team might have missed its chance when Granit Xhaka rattled the goalpost with a stoppage-time curling shot, but soon after Boniface made the breakthrough.
All of Wolfsburg's players — down by one thanks to a red card for Yannick Gerhardt — were packed into the penalty area but Boniface, fresh from showing off an eye-catching skill in Leverkusen’s 4-0 win over Feyenoord, suddenly found space in a crowd of three opponents to turn and shoot past goalkeeper Kamil Grabara.
It was the second time in four Bundesliga games this season that Leverkusen has won in added time. That followed an almost unbelievable series of dramatic finishes in its title-winning season.
Leverkusen had to twice come back from a goal down against Wolfsburg to give itself a chance at the win.
New signing Nordi Mukiele's fifth-minute own goal put Wolfsburg ahead but Leverkusen answered with goals from Florian Wirtz — his fourth in eight days — and Jonathan Tah.
Wolfsburg was the leader again by halftime after Sebastiaan Bornauw and Mattias Svanberg scored, but defender Piero Hincapie leveled the score again for Leverkusen with a header early in the second half.
Leverkusen's games have been nothing if not entertaining this season, with a combined 22 goals in four Bundesliga games — 13 for, nine against — and including a rare 3-2 loss to Leipzig last month. That leaves Leverkusen three points behind Bayern, whose new coach Vincent Kompany has overseen four wins from four league games , scoring 16 goals and conceding only three.
Later Sunday, Stuttgart hosts Borussia Dortmund before Leipzig visits promoted St. Pauli.
Updated 21:57 IST, September 22nd 2024