The 'Boni-trick' comes out in the Champions League as Victor Boniface puts on a show for Leverkusen

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — Victor Boniface didn’t have to score to make a big impression for Bayer Leverkusen on its return to the Champions League on Thursday.

With an exquisite piece of footwork in the build-up to the second goal in a 4-0 win at Feyenoord, the Nigeria striker earned the praise of his teammates — and plenty of soccer fans on social media.

Boniface was on the edge of the area when he pretended to shoot with his right foot, only to play the ball wide to Jeremie Frimpong with his left foot in the same movement.

Frimpong wound up crossing for Alex Grimaldo to score for 2-0 in the 30th minute.

“That’s his signature move,” Leverkusen forward Florian Wirtz said of Boniface. “I think he’s the best at doing it in the soccer world.”

Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso called it a “Boni-trick.”

“When it works, we’re happy,” Alonso said of a piece of skill Boniface does a lot in training, “and when it doesn’t, we need to be a bit simpler.”

Wirtz scored the first and third goals for Leverkusen, which thrilled European soccer last season by going unbeaten in the domestic game in Germany to win the league-and-cup double while also reaching the Europa League final, ultimately losing to Atalanta.

It was Wirtz’s debut in the Champions League.

“We were just happy to be playing in the Champions League again,” the Germany international told DAZN. “I didn’t count on finishing with two goals, but I had two chances and I just used them both.”

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Feyenoord's Ramiz Zerrouki, left, and Leverkusen's Victor Boniface fight for the ball during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Feyenoord and Leverkusen in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Feyenoord's Ramiz Zerrouki, left, and Leverkusen's Victor Boniface fight for the ball during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Feyenoord and Leverkusen in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds acquired veteran catcher Jose Trevino in a trade with the New York Yankees on Friday.

Known more for his defensive ability, Trevino batted .215 with eight homers and 28 RBIs in 74 games for the AL East champions this year. He was a backup by the end of the year after rookie Austin Wells took over behind the plate.

Cincinnati sent reliever Fernando Cruz and catcher Alex Jackson to New York.

Cruz went 3-8 with a 4.86 ERA in 69 appearances this season, striking out 109 in 66 2/3 innings. Jackson, who turns 29 on Wednesday, batted .122 with three homers in 58 games for Tampa Bay this year. He signed a minor league deal with Cincinnati last month.

The Reds also have Tyler Stephenson at catcher. The 28-year-old Stephenson is coming off a breakout season, batting .258 with 19 homers and 66 RBIs.

Trevino, 32, made his big league debut with Texas in 2018. He was an All-Star and Gold Glove winner with New York in 2022, hitting .248 with 11 homers and 43 RBIs in 115 games.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

FILE - New York Yankees catcher Jose Trevino speaks during a news conference before Game 3 of the baseball World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)