Lois Openda's superb performance on Saturday evening halted Bayer Leverkusen's 35-game domestic unbeaten run which started at the beginning of the 2023/24 season, Nigeriasoccernet.com can report.
The 24-year-old Belgian scored a second-half brace to hand RB Leipzig an infamous win at the BayArena, despite having their coach sent off in the first half of the encounter.
In what seems to be looking like a roller coaster evening for Bayer Leverkusen after Frimpong and Grimaldo put them 2-goals up in 45 minutes, Kelvin Kampl reduced the deficit for Leipzig in the 7th minute of the additional time in the first half.
Lois Openda leveled proceedings for Leipzig in the 57th minute before completing his brace in the 80th minute to condemn Leverkusen to their first domestic defeat in 35 games.
A difficult evening it was for the Nigeria duo of Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella who both played a part as the team suffered their first domestic defeat since September 2023.
Boniface started the game and was close to scoring for Leverkusen on a couple of occasions before making way for Patrik Schick in the 77th minute. Tella was in the same minute introduced for Jeremie Frimpong.
The win put Leipzig on top of the log with 6 points after 2 games and Leverkusen 9th with 3 points from a possible 6.
Leverkusen will face Hoffenheim next on September 14th at the Prezero Arena, after the FIFA international break.
Oluwayemi Omolagba