Bayer Leverkusen managed to pick up a 2-0 win against West Ham United in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final. (AFP)
JONAS Hofmann and Victor Boniface scored after coming on as substitutes as Bayer Leverkusen beat West Ham 2-0 at home on Thursday in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-finals.
After needing a stoppage-time goal from Patrick Schick to win both legs of their last game against Qarabag, Leverkusen dominated but failed to score against a determined visitor.
With 14 minutes remaining, coach Xabi Alonso brought on Hofmann and Boniface and the move worked, with the Nigerian connecting with the German winger to open the scoring in the 83rd minute.
Also read: Xabi Alonso wants to create a miracle with Bayer Leverkusen
Boniface then capped the result in extra time, scoring from a Hofmann cross for a 2-0 win.
“It’s not luck, it’s for a reason,” Alonso told reporters of his team’s habit of winning games in the last minute.
“When the score is 0-0, you can overdo it and lose control when trying to score. We didn’t want to do that. We wanted to stay persistent and keep trying.”
Also read: Bayer Leverkusen vs Qarabag: 37 matches, Xabi Alonso still refuses to lose
The win continues what could be a stunning week for Leverkusen, who are 16 points clear of Bayern Munich in Germany and can win their first Bundesliga title by beating Werder Bremen at home on Sunday.
Alonso told reporters “the enthusiasm is huge — it couldn’t be greater.”
“We have a chance on Sunday — if we win, we become champions. We have to press the gas and that would be something very special to achieve.”
Also read: Beat Frankfurt, Leverkusen firmly at the top of the Bundesliga standings
“The singing crowd gave me goosebumps,” Hofmann told German TV network RTL.
“It means everything to be able to lift the shield at the end of the season. It will be a moment where maybe a few tears will fall. We may be too emotional, but you need to let your emotions flow.”
West Ham, who fought hard with little possession or field position, will need to be the first team to beat Alonso’s side this season to return to the semi-finals.
Also read: Bayer Leverkusen vs AS Roma, Alonso’s proof match for Mourinho
West Ham coach, David Moyes, praised his opponents.
“We played against a Champions League level team tonight — and a good team too,” said Moyes.
West Ham’s approach is similar to their last visit to Freiburg in the last 16, with Moyes’ players sitting deeper outside the house in the hope of deciding things at home, with the hope of injured key player Jarrod Bowen returning to their team .
“The first thing we need to do is score one goal — one goal and we’ll take it from there,” Moyes said of the second leg.
Schick had a chance to put the hosts ahead early, turning in Florian Wirtz’s pass after seven minutes but Lukasz Fabianski was in the perfect position to save.
Fabianski needed to be a little more acrobatic to stop Leverkusen’s next chance, the West Ham goalkeeper leaping to stop Amine Adli’s effort in the 11th minute.
The home side’s domination continued without reward in the second half, Fabianski once again leaping acrobatically to save Schick’s perfectly placed header with 20 minutes remaining.
Alonso would be forgiven if he was having flashbacks to the semi-finals of this competition last season, where Jose Mourinho’s Roma overthrew Leverkusen with a similar approach.
With the match heading towards a goalless draw, Alonso made changes, bringing on Boniface and Hofmann.
Hofmann opened the scoring first from Boniface’s cross before setting up Boniface’s stoppage-time goal, sealing another win for Alonso’s side in stoppage time.
As well as overturning a two-goal defeat, West Ham will be short-handed in the second leg even if Bowen returns, with Emerson and Lucas Paqueta likely to miss out after picking up yellow cards. (AFP/Z-3)