Victor Boniface is advancing his own cause in Europe and sooner than later the Forward will earn the recognition he now more than deserves.
A lethal finisher and a player on a steady rise, Boniface is proving his goalscoring exploits at Bodo/Glimt wasn’t at all a flash in the pan, and opposition defenders in the UEFA Europa League found out; if they’d not been forewarned.
On one of his biggest nights in European football, the 22 year-old hit a brace, and even more interesting is against the calibre of opponent, whom he flexed on.
Union Berlin have one of Bundesliga’s most consistent sides, in the last three seasons, but the Nigerian made the defence look very ordinary.
Royal Union SG themselves were coming off the back of a victory against KAS Eupen in the Jupiler League, but prior that, the side were on a free fall; winless in four matches.
At the Stadion An der Alten Försterei, on Thursday night, in the first-leg UEFA Europa League round of 16 clash, Boniface broke the deadlock against Union Berlin.
His first on the night came in the 28th minute and his second in the 78trh minute, but a goal from Josip Juranović initially leveled (42′) for the hosts.
Yorbe Vertessen restored Union SG’s lead with a quick response in the second half (58′).
Then it truly became a goal fest as Robin Knuckle restored parity in the 69th minute, but a second from Boniface in the 72nd looked might have won it.
It then seemed realistic, that the Belgian side would walk away with maximum points. However, Sven Michel struck in the 89th minute to send Union Berlin marching into the second leg, of the match.
With Thursday’s outcome Victor Boniface became the highest scoring Nigerian in the European competitions this season.
This term, he has played in the UEFA Champions League playoffs, scoring 5goals in 4appearsnces. While at Union SG, he has also scored 5goals, 1 assist in 7appesrsnces.
It is also the most goals scored by a Nigerian in either European competitions in one season.
