Super Eagles winger Nathan Tella stole the spotlight on Tuesday, as his vital assist helped Bayer Leverkusen surge to a decisive 3-0 victory over Elversberg in the German DFB Pokal round of 32.
In a season where Tella has seen limited minutes, this moment marked his first assist and a major contribution to Leverkusen’s commanding progression to the next stage, Footballrover reports.
The Nigerian star, who has logged just 92 minutes across four games this season, was handed a rare starting position at the BayArena, and he seized the opportunity in impressive fashion.
Positioned on the left flank, Tella delivered his first goal involvement of the campaign, leading Leverkusen to dominant display.
Tella’s assist sparks Leverkusen’s triumph
Leverkusen, after two consecutive draws—a 1-1 tie in the Champions League against Brest and a 2-2 Bundesliga draw with Werder Bremen—needed a lift, and Tella’s assist came at the perfect time.
Barely two minutes into the game, he threaded a pass to Patrik Schick, who maneuvered past defenders and finished clinically, putting Leverkusen in front.
Not long after, Schick capitalised again, pouncing on a rebound to extend their advantage. Minutes before halftime, Aleix Garcia’s stunning free-kick from just outside the box sealed the 3-0 scoreline.
Tella’s 69-minute display saw him rack up 40 touches and 26 accurate passes, including two key passes in the final third.
Demonstrating defensive tenacity, he registered two tackles, six recoveries, and five successful duels before being substituted for Granit Xhaka.
Also joining the action, fellow Nigerian Victor Boniface made an appearance in the 79th minute, replacing Schick.
This victory marks a return to winning form for Leverkusen, and Tella will be eager to build on his performance in their upcoming clash against VfB Stuttgart.
Be the first to comment on "Nathan Tella’s assist ignites Leverkusen’s dominant DFB Pokal victory"