Super Eagles striker, Victor Boniface, scored the decisive goal as defending champions Bayer Leverkusen staged a dramatic comeback to defeat second-division side Cologne 3-2 after extra time in the German Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Leverkusen seemed headed for an early exit in the heated western German derby when Damian Downs capitalized on poor defending to put Cologne ahead late in the first half.
Downs then set up Linton Maina to double the visitors’ lead in the 54th minute.
However, Patrik Schick reignited Leverkusen’s hopes, cutting the deficit in the 61st minute after a brilliant assist from former Cologne academy talent Florian Wirtz.
Schick completed the comeback deep into stoppage time, heading the ball into the bottom left corner to force extra time.
Boniface delivered the winner in the 98th minute, skillfully volleying Alejandro Grimaldo’s cross from the left after Grimaldo had earlier struck the crossbar in the first half.
Cologne thought they had equalized for 3-3 in the 111th minute when substitute Imad Rondic found the net, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR review ruled him marginally offside.
Leverkusen narrowly avoided an upset, continuing their habit of late goals—an echo of last season’s heroics that helped them achieve an unbeaten Bundesliga and Cup double.
Cologne executed their counterattacking strategy effectively for much of the game, only to fall short against the resilient title holders, who had knocked out record Cup winners Bayern Munich in the previous round.
Meanwhile, VfB Stuttgart booked their spot in the semi-finals with a 1-0 victory over Augsburg on Tuesday.
The other quarter-final fixtures will see third-tier Arminia Bielefeld take on Werder Bremen on February 25, while Leipzig host Wolfsburg the following day.
