Victor Boniface struck a stoppage-time winner to give Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen a thrilling 4-3 win over Wolfsburg on Sunday providing a perfect boost ahead of next week's trip to Bayern Munich.
In a seesaw encounter, the teams were locked at 3-3 from the 48th minute.
VICTOR BONIFACE I LOVE YOU! 🇳🇬
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) September 22, 2024
90' | 4-3 | #B04WOB @boniface_jrn pic.twitter.com/pcNWAFIFoD
Wolfsburg were then reduced to 10 men in the dying stages when Yannick Gerhardt sunk his studs into Jeremie Frimpong's calf.
Boniface, who came on with 22 minutes remaining, collected a pass before pivoting on the spot and shooting home to snatch the German champions another late victory.
Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso had named a heavily changed line-up from the side which thrashed Feyenoord 4-0 in the Champions League on Thursday, giving Nordi Mukiele his starting debut.
🚨🚨| GOAL: BONIFACE GIVES BAYER LEVERKUSEN THE LEAD IN THE 93RD MINUTE!!!
— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) September 22, 2024
Bayer 4-3 Wolfsburg
pic.twitter.com/LJGNvFgG0J
However, Mukiele, signed on loan from French champions PSG, endured a nightmare start when he allowed the ball to bounce in off his thigh for a fifth-minute own goal.
Florian Wirtz, who scored a brace on his Champions League debut on Thursday, drew Leverkusen level with a superb effort from outside the box shortly after.
Victor Boniface since coming to Europe:
— Football Talent Scout - Jacek Kulig (@FTalentScout) September 22, 2024
🇳🇴66 games, 23 goals & 8 assists for Bodø/Glimt
🇧🇪51 games, 17 goals & 12 assists for Union SG
🇩🇪40 games, 25 goals & 11 assists for Bayer Leverkusen
23 years of age. Exemplary career. Step by step to the top. Magnificent player. 🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/f56uHEkfnb
Jonathan Tah headed the hosts ahead from a corner after 32 minutes but Leverkusen's joy was short-lived, with Wolfsburg's Sebastiaan Bornauw equalising five minutes later, jumping above Mukiele to head in from close range.
Mattias Svanberg scored from the edge of the box on the counter for Wolfsburg before Leverkusen levelled again on 48 minutes through Piero Hincapie.
In breaking through for their debut Bundesliga title last season without losing a match Leverkusen dropped just 12 points but they appeared on course for a second setback after losing to RB Leipzig in their last home game.
Boniface had other ideas and sliced the ball home in the third minute of injury time to keep Leverkusen three points behind league leaders Bayern, ahead of next week's clash in Munich.
Later on Sunday, Borussia Dortmund travel to Stuttgart while St Pauli host RB Leipzig.