Euro Leagues update: Boniface rescues Royale Union SG again; Bassey’s Ajax bite the dust

Nigerian striker Victor Boniface scored his second consecutive goal for Royale Union Saint-Gilliose to help them to a tough 2-1 victory at Eupen.

Royale Union secured Boniface’s services from Norwegian champions Bodø Glimt in the summer. And the 21-year-old is fast becoming a hero without a cape for his employers.

The Nigerian striker scored a stoppage-time clincher in midweek for Les Unionistes in their 3-2 victory over Malmo. He then replicated that same form in the league when Royale Union SG traveled to Eupen.

The visitors took the lead through Simon Adingra in the 9th minute, but Boris Lambert restored parity ten minutes later.

However, the scoring took a long pause. It looked like the game would end 1-1, but Boniface had other ideas. The former Bodø Glimt man latched onto a pass from Van Der Heyden and fired home to make it 2-1, ensuring a victory for his side.

The win leaves Royale Union SG in the sixth position, eleven points adrift of leaders Antwerp.

 

Meanwhile, it was not all rainbows and sunshine for Bassey in the Eredivisie, as his Ajax side suffered a painful 2-1 loss at AZ Alkmaar.

In-form Ghanaian midfielder put Ajax ahead after just twelve minutes, but Mees De Wit responded for the home side five minutes before the break.

Just when it looked like the first half would end in a 1-1 stalemate, AZ Alkmaar struck again. Jen Odgaard capitalized on a defensive hiccup and produced an unstoppable shot that beat Pasveer in the Ajax goal to make it 2-1.

Ajax piled the pressure in the second half, but it amounted to naught as it ended 2-1 at AFAS Stadion.

Bassey played all 90 minutes, and he had 84 touches, 89 percent pass accuracy, four clearances, two interceptions, and three tackles.

The loss was Godenzonen’s first of the season in the League. And it ensured that they dropped to second, albeit because of their inferior goal difference against PSV Eindhoven.