Nigerian striker, Nathan Tella, scores as Bayer Leverkusen beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2

Nigeria’s Nathan Tella marked an explosive start to the new year by scoring a brilliant goal in the opening seconds of Bayer Leverkusen’s 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund. The match, which was the first of 2025 for both teams, saw Tella make an immediate impact with a goal just 25 seconds into the game.

Taking advantage of a defensive error by Dortmund, Tella fired a powerful shot from the edge of the box to give Leverkusen the perfect start. This goal marked his first in the Bundesliga this season.

Leverkusen quickly extended their lead, with Patrik Schick scoring twice within the first 19 minutes. Despite the early onslaught, Dortmund responded with Jamie Bynoe-Gittens finding the back of the net before Serhou Guirassy scored a penalty in the 79th minute, narrowing the score to 3-2.

Guirassy’s penalty took his season’s tally to seven goals and one assist, continuing his impressive debut season with Dortmund.

The match was fiercely contested, but Leverkusen held on to their lead, moving just one point behind Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga standings.

Tella’s goal and overall contribution were crucial for Leverkusen as they aim to challenge for the title this season. His quick start to the year demonstrates his importance to the team.

Meanwhile, Tella’s Super Eagles teammate, Victor Boniface, who is still recovering from injury, closely followed the match. Boniface expressed his excitement on social media after Tella’s early goal, sharing a “Happy New Year” message and later following up with another post after the final whistle.

Tella and Guirassy’s performances in this thrilling match highlight their importance to their respective teams as both sides prepare for the challenges ahead in the second half of the season.