Nigerian striker Victor Boniface emerged as Bayer Leverkusen’s hero, scoring a late penalty to secure a 1-1 draw against Qarabag in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, November 9.

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The thrilling encounter at the Tofik Bakhramov Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan, saw Leverkusen clinch maximum points and confirm their place in the knockout stage of the competition after winning all four matches this season.

The match remained deadlocked at 0-0 until stoppage time when Boniface, who had already made an impact with three shots earlier in the game, calmly converted a penalty kick.

The decisive moment came after Qarabag’s Maksim Medvedev was deemed to have handled the ball in the first minute of additional time at the end of the 90 minutes.

Despite Leverkusen dominating possession with a 31/69 split and both teams recording 11 shot attempts each, it was Boniface’s clinical finish that sealed the victory for the German Bundesliga table-toppers.

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This crucial win elevates Bayer Leverkusen to the top spot in their Europa League group, ensuring their progression to the knockout stage with an unblemished record in the competition.

For Victor Boniface, the late-game heroics marked his 11th goal for Bayer Leverkusen across all competitions.

The Nigerian international, who finished as the Europa League top-scorer last season with Royale Union Saint Gilloloise, has already found the net four times in the current campaign.

The victory not only solidifies Bayer Leverkusen’s standing in the Europa League but also underscores Victor Boniface’s prowess as a goal-scoring force, adding to the team’s aspirations for success in the competition.