Bayer Leverkusen secured their first German Super Cup title in a dramatic encounter against Stuttgart, with Nigerian forward Victor Boniface playing a crucial role in the victory. The match, held on Saturday, saw Leverkusen triumph 4-3 in a tense penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw in regular time.
Leverkusen, despite being reduced to ten men for the majority of the game, displayed remarkable resilience.
The match began with Boniface giving Leverkusen an early lead in the 11th minute, marking his first goal of the season.
Stuttgart quickly responded, equalizing just four minutes later through Enzo Millot.
The game took a challenging turn for Leverkusen in the 37th minute when Martin Terrier was shown a straight red card, leaving the team to battle on with ten players.
Stuttgart capitalized on their numerical advantage in the second half, with Deniz Undav putting them ahead 2-1 in the 63rd minute.
However, Leverkusen refused to back down. As the clock ticked down, Patrik Schick found the back of the net in the 88th minute, bringing the score to 2-2 and sending the match into a penalty shootout.
In the shootout, Leverkusen’s composure was evident.
They converted all four of their penalties, while Stuttgart faltered, missing two of their five attempts.
This secured a historic victory for Leverkusen, their first-ever German Super Cup title.
The victory is particularly sweet for Boniface, who, along with teammate Nathan Tella, now boasts three titles with the club.
Both players were instrumental in Leverkusen’s Bundesliga and German Cup successes last season, and their contributions continue to be vital for the team.
Leverkusen’s win also cements their place in Bundesliga history, as they became the first team to go undefeated throughout the league season.
This latest triumph adds to their growing legacy and sets a high bar for the upcoming season.
As Leverkusen celebrates this milestone, the performance of players like Boniface and Schick will be crucial as the team looks to build on their success and continue competing at the highest levels of German and European football.
