Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface emerged as the hero for Bayer Leverkusen, scoring the only goal in their 1-0 victory against AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday. This win marked another successful chapter for Leverkusen as they maintained their perfect start in the competition.
The decisive moment came early in the second half when Boniface showcased his poaching instincts. He reacted quickly to follow up on a parried shot from teammate Jeremie Frimpong, firing home emphatically to secure three points for Xabi Alonso’s side.
Leverkusen, who were Europa League finalists last season, continued their impressive form, winning both of their Champions League matches so far, scoring five goals and not conceding any. In contrast, this defeat marked a disappointing start for Milan, who have now lost both of their Champions League outings after falling 3-1 to Liverpool in their first match.
Boniface nearly opened the scoring in the 21st minute, but his effort was ruled out for offside after a VAR review, denying him his first goal in the Champions League proper. Despite this setback, Leverkusen maintained control of the match, with German starlet Florian Wirtz heavily involved in their attacking plays.
AC Milan’s goalkeeper Mike Maignan managed to keep the score level until the second half, but Boniface’s persistence paid off just six minutes after the break. The Nigerian forward found the back of the net after Maignan could only parry Frimpong’s low drive across the goal-line, allowing Boniface to smash in the rebound.
The goal sparked a response from Milan, who began to pose more of a threat. Youssouf Fofana tested Leverkusen’s goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky with two long-range efforts, but the hosts remained resilient.
Frimpong had a golden opportunity to seal the match with 15 minutes remaining, but his shot went into the side netting with only Maignan to beat.
As the match neared its conclusion, Milan came agonizingly close to equalizing when Theo Hernandez’s deflected shot hit the bar, followed by Alvaro Morata’s header that went wide. Hradecky was also called into action to deny Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who struck a fierce shot on the turn.
Leverkusen still looked dangerous on the counter and nearly wrapped up the victory in injury time, showcasing their attacking prowess and defensive solidity as they continue their Champions League campaign with confidence.