Boniface scores as Leverkusen beat West Ham

Jonas Hofmann and Victor Boniface found the net after coming off the bench as Bayer Leverkusen secured a 2-0 victory over West Ham in their Europa League quarter-final first leg at home on Thursday.

Despite their dominance, Leverkusen struggled to break through the resilient defense of the visitors until coach Xabi Alonso introduced Hofmann and Boniface in the 76th minute.

The tactical change paid off, with Hofmann connecting with Boniface to open the scoring in the 83rd minute, before Boniface sealed the win with a stoppage-time header from a Hofmann cross.

This win adds to Leverkusen’s impressive run, as they remain 16 points ahead of Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and have a chance to secure their first title by defeating Werder Bremen at home on Sunday.

Speaking to German TV network RTL, Hofmann expressed his gratitude for the support of the fans and emphasized the team’s desire to lift the shield at the end of the season, potentially leading to emotional moments.

On the other hand, West Ham, despite their defensive efforts, will need to overturn the deficit in the return leg and may face additional challenges with key players Emerson and Lucas Paqueta set to miss out due to yellow card suspensions.