Nigerian forward Victor Boniface was on target in the Europa League Round of 16 encounter between Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise and German Bundesliga team Union Berlin.
The 22-year-old bagged a brace for the Belgians to help them secure a 3-3 draw in the first leg at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei in Germany on Thursday.
Un bon résultat à Berlin. We zien elkaar volgende week donderdag! ✨????????
Achetez maintenant vos tickets : https://t.co/4M1q0YPwWQ
Meer info: https://t.co/jwLPydflNm pic.twitter.com/iO7P7p3bh3— Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (@UnionStGilloise) March 9, 2023
The former Bodo/Glimt striker put the away side in front in the 28th minute as his goal-bound effort took a huge deflection before beating Danish goalkeeper Frederik Ronnow between the sticks for Berlin.
Croatian full back Josip Juranovic, who sealed a move to the German side in January, pulled Die Eisernen level with a sunning free kick three minutes before the halftime break.
Belgian forward Yorbe Vertessen put Saint-Gilloise ahead again in the 58th minute following a solid counterattack. However, ten minutes later, the home side were awarded a penalty, but German defender Robin Knoche’s initial effort was saved by Anthony Moris the 30-year-old was on hand and composed enough to tuck in his rebound.
Boniface scored his second in the 72nd minute against the run of play. The pacey forward fired his effort back across goal off a low cross from right-back Bart Nieuwkoop. Union Berlin would not go down without a fight as they drew level for the third time in the game through substitute Sven Michel’s strike into the bottom corner.
The match was the third encounter between the two teams in the European competition this season after they were paired together in the same group.
Boniface has been in impressive form for Union Saint-Gilloise this season since sealing a move to Western Europe in August 2022. The former Nigeria U-20 forward has scored 19 goals and provided six assists in 40 games across all competitions, including five goals in seven Europa League outings for the Belgian side.
