Victor Boniface didn’t have to score to make a big impression for Bayer Leverkusen on their return to the Champions League on Thursday.
With an exquisite piece of footwork in the build-up to the second goal in a 4-0 win at Feyenoord, the Nigeria striker earned the praise of his teammates – and plenty of fans on social media.
Boniface was on the edge of the area when he performed two nutmegs to make some space for himself.
He then shaped to shoot with his right foot, only to play the ball wide to Jeremie Frimpong with his left foot in the same movement while looking the other way.
Frimpong then crossed for Alex Grimaldo to score to make it 2-0 in the 30th minute.
Victor Boniface performed a clever trick pass during his side’s win over Feyenoord
The forward made the pass with his standing foot and the move resulted in a goal
The trick pass is one that was made famous by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry and Florian Wirtz says it has also become a signature move for his team-mate.
‘That’s his signature move,’ Leverkusen forward Florian Wirtz said of Boniface. ‘I think he’s the best at doing it in the soccer world.’
Leverkusen coach also Xabi Alonso called it a ‘Boni-trick after the game’
When it works, we’re happy,’ Alonso said of the skill Boniface does a lot in training, ‘and when it doesn’t, we need to be a bit simpler.’
Florian Wirtz scored twice as Bayer Leverkusen made a fine start in the Champions League
Wirtz scored the first and third goals for Leverkusen, who captured the imagination of the footballing world last season by going unbeaten in Germany to win the league and cup double while also reaching the Europa League final.
It was Wirtz’s debut in the Champions League. ‘We were just happy to be playing in the Champions League again,’ the Germany international told DAZN. ‘I didn’t count on finishing with two goals, but I had two chances and I just used them both.’