Victor Boniface on target as Bayer Leverkusen thrash Qarabag

Super Eagles star Victor Boniface was on the scoresheet for Bayer Leverkusen as they thrashed Qarabag 5-1 in their UEFA Europa League meeting at the BayArena.

Boniface received his golden boot for finishing as the joint top-scorer in the 2022-23 UEFA Europa League campaign just before the match as his in-form side prepared for the visit of their opponents from Azerbaijan.

Bayer Leverkusen needed only four minutes to open the scoring at home through 20-year-old attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz.

Qarabag were gifted an equaliser totally against the run of play via a penalty, which was calmly scored by Toral Bayramov in the 16th minute.

The home side regained the lead in the 29th minute through left-wing back Alejandro Grimaldo off an assist from Wirtz.

The German playmaker recorded his second assist of the night, this time for Boniface, six minutes later. He played a pass into the feet of the 22-year-old striker, who took a touch to lift the ball into the air before volleying home an unstoppable effort from outside the box for his tenth goal of the season.

Xabi Alonso’s side carried their dominance into the second half as Grimaldo added his second of the night and his side’s fourth in the 54th minute of the encounter.

Burkina Faso international Edmond Tapsoba scored his side’s fifth three minutes later to round off the scoring.

After a good day’s work, Boniface was taken off for his side after 62 minutes to be replaced by Czech international Patrick Schick.