Super Eagles stars Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella helped Bayer Leverkusen win their first German Cup in 31 years, defeating Kaiserslautern 1-0. Granit Xhaka scored the decisive goal, while Odilon Kossounou was sent off. Boniface stayed on the bench, and Tella made a brief appearance.
Super Eagles stars Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella played pivotal roles in Bayer Leverkusen’s historic 1-0 victory over Kaiserslautern, securing their first German Cup title in 31 years, according to Soccernet.ng. Die Werkself clashed with Bundesliga 2 side Kaiserslautern at the Olympiastadion on Saturday night, aiming to lift the German Cup for the first time since 1993.
Despite being overwhelming favorites, Bayer Leverkusen were still reeling from a disheartening 3-0 defeat to Atalanta in the Europa League final earlier in the week, which ended their 52-game unbeaten streak. Coach Xabi Alonso opted not to start Boniface and Tella in the midweek fixture, and he repeated this strategy against Kaiserslautern, with both players beginning on the bench.
Bayer Leverkusen asserted their dominance from the outset, and it only took 16 minutes for Granit Xhaka to find the back of the net. However, the team faced a significant setback when Ivorian defender Odilon Kossounou was sent off late in the first half. Despite being reduced to ten men, Bayer Leverkusen managed to hold on to their slender lead, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory.
While Boniface remained on the bench for the entirety of the match, Tella made a brief appearance. This triumph marked a long-awaited achievement for Bayer Leverkusen, who had reached the final three times in the past 24 years without success. Boniface and Tella's contributions this season have been instrumental in the club’s success, culminating in this historic German Cup win.
