Boniface strikes twice for Leverkusen in 4-1 win at Hoffenheim

SINSHEIM, Germany : Champions Bayer Leverkusen cruised to a 4-1 victory at Hoffenheim on Saturday thanks to a dazzling performance by Victor Boniface that included two goals and an assist.

Leverkusen, who face Feyenoord in the Champions League next week, struck twice in the first half-hour for a 2-0 lead with Boniface setting up Martin Terrier for a tap-in in the 17th minute and the Nigerian turning scorer in the 30th.

Hoffenheim's Mergim Berisha, making his first appearances since a knee ligament tear last November, cut the deficit in the 37th but Leverkusen restored their two-goal lead courtesy of a Florian Wirtz penalty in the 72nd.

Boniface then single-handedly dismantled the Hoffenheim defence with a strong run down the left, powering a short past keeper Oliver Baumann in the 75th to lift Leverkusen to fourth place on six points.