Super Eagles duo of Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella were in action as newly-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen reached the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday and stretched their undefeated run in all competitions this season to 44 matches.
Nathan Tella started the game and saw 46th minutes of action before being replaced by Jeremie Frimpong, while Victor Boniface who scored in the first leg came on in the second for Patrick Schick in the 46th minutes as well.
The German side drew 1-1 at West Ham in the second leg of their quarter-final tie and went through 3-1 on aggregate.
Michail Antonio put West Ham ahead on 13 minutes before Jeremie Frimpong levelled in the 89th minute for Xabi Alonso’s side.
Bayer Leverkusen will face Roma for a place in the final.
“I think we felt it in the first half, for me, it was a typical English crowd. They were pushing West Ham unbelievably. We were lucky in the first half if we’re honest,” Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka told TNT Sports.
“It was a different phase in the second half, we controlled the game. We are happy we got through.
“We competed much more. If you see over 180 minutes, the better team goes through.”
Last weekend, Bayer Leverkusen won the Bundesliga for the first time, ending Bayern Munich’s 11-year grip on the title.
They remain in contention for a treble trophy haul this season as they also face second-division Kaiserslautern in the German Cup final on May 25.
-Vanguard
