Bayer Leverkusen secured a place in the DFB-Pokal semi-finals after an intense 3-2 comeback victory over FC Cologne at the BayArena on Wednesday night. The thrilling match saw Leverkusen overturn a two-goal deficit, with Nigerian striker Victor Boniface marking his return from injury with a dramatic extra-time winner.
FC Cologne took an early lead in the match, with Damion Downs finding the back of the net in the first half. The visitors then doubled their advantage in the 54th minute, courtesy of a well-taken goal by Linton Maina, putting Leverkusen under serious pressure.
Despite being two goals down, Xabi Alonso’s side refused to give up and began mounting a comeback. Czech forward Patrik Schick gave Leverkusen a lifeline just past the hour mark, scoring a crucial goal to reduce the deficit.
As the match neared its conclusion, Leverkusen pushed relentlessly for an equalizer. Their efforts paid off in stoppage time when Schick once again rose to the occasion, scoring a dramatic header to force the game into extra time.
With momentum on their side, Leverkusen introduced Victor Boniface in the 76th minute, making his much-anticipated return from a two-month injury layoff. The Nigerian forward wasted no time making an impact, as he netted the decisive goal just eight minutes into extra time, side-footing home from close range to complete the comeback.
Boniface’s goal secured a crucial victory for Leverkusen and further highlighted his importance to the team. The Super Eagles striker now boasts ten goals across all competitions this season, with seven coming in the Bundesliga, and one each in the DFB-Pokal, Champions League, and German Super Cup.
Leverkusen, last season’s DFB-Pokal champions, continue their impressive run in the competition and remain strong contenders for the title again this year. With their spot in the semi-finals secured, Xabi Alonso’s men will now set their sights on progressing further and potentially defending their crown.