UEL & UECL: Boniface fires Bayer Leverkusen past West Ham; Onyedika wins in Brugge

UEL & UECL: Boniface fires Bayer Leverkusen past West Ham; Onyedika wins in Brugge

  • The first leg of the quarterfinal fixtures in the UEFA Europa League and the Europa Conference League took centre stage on Thursday night.
  • EaglesTracker monitored how Nigerian players fared in the two competitions.

Europa League

Victor Boniface scored his first goal since his return from injury to power Bayer 04 Leverkusen to a fine [2-0] victory over West Ham United FC.

Boniface had four goals in the competition before injury knocked him out of the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

However, with his injury troubles behind him, the Nigeria international produced an excellent header in stoppage time to double Leverkusen's advantage inside the BayArena.

Boniface had been involved in his side's opening goal in the 83rd minute when his shot was blocked in the box before Jonas Hofmann smashed home the rebound.

Nathan Tella, like Boniface, was a second-half substitute in the encounter.

At the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Samuel Chukuweze replaced Christian Pulisic in the 78th minute, but the Super Eagles winger could not help AC Milan avoid a [0-1] loss to AS Roma.

Atalanta BC delivered a masterclass performance to force a crushing [3-0] defeat down the throat of Liverpool FC at Anfield.

However, Ademola Lookman watched the entire proceedings from the bench.

UEFA Europa Conference League

Raphael Onyedika gave a good account of himself as Club Brugge carved out a slim [1-0] home victory against PAOK inside the Jan Breydelstadion.

Onyedika won his side a penalty in the 78th minute but Brazilian star Thiago failed to convert the spot kick.

Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong was not in the PAOK squad as he is currently recuperating from an injury.

Bright Osayi-Samuel was on the pitch from start to finish for Fenerbahce SK in their [3-2] defeat in Greece to Olympiakos CFP.

Olympiakos took a three-nil into the last 20 minutes before Fener did well to strike twice and reduce the deficit ahead of the return leg next week.

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