German giants Bayern Munich have been eliminated from this year’s DFB-Pokal Cup by the defending champions Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
League and Cup champions Bayer Leverkusen achieved the win courtesy of a header from one cap Nigeria international winger Nathan Tella in the 69th minute to left the home crowd stunned.
Grimaldo delivered a superb cross into the Bayern penalty area. Substitute Tella who had drifted away from his marker, powered a header into the back of the net. A strike which ended as the defining moment of the game for the champions.
Ironically it came against the team whose coach Vincent Kompany gave him his breakthrough season two years ago while Tella was on loan to Burnley in the English Championship with Kompany as the head coach. He was key in helping the team gain promotion to the English Premier League at the end of that season.
It was Tella’s first goal of the season in what was his 15th appearance of the season. However he has only started in one game in the league, one in the UEFA Champions League and twice in the Cup where he finally got off the mark.
He will be hoping that the goal will be the first step toward helping him cement a spot in the team that he joined before the beginning of last season on a five year deal from English Premier League side Southampton.
Ade Emmanuel
