Kofane on target as Leverkusen beat Union for second straight win

LEVERKUSEN: Teenage forward Christian Kofane scored his first Bundesliga goal as Bayer Leverkusen secured a 2-0 victory over Union Berlin on Saturday, earning their second consecutive league win and climbing into the top four.

With star striker Patrik Schick sidelined due to injury, Leverkusen initially found it difficult to break through Union’s defence. But a well-worked team move ended with Ernest Poku tapping in from 10 metres to give the hosts the lead.

Shortly after the break, Kofane, a Cameroon U-20 international, capitalised on a mistake by Union goalkeeper Frederik Ronnow to double Leverkusen’s lead. It marked the 19-year-old’s first league goal — coming just three days after he opened his European account in a 1-1 Champions League draw against PSV Eindhoven.

The 2024 German double winners had a shaky start to the season, which resulted in the sacking of head coach Erik ten Hag. However, under new manager Kasper Hjulmand, the side is now unbeaten in four Bundesliga matches.

Leverkusen move up to fourth place with 11 points, trailing leaders Bayern Munich by four.

Separately, former Manchester United winger Antony has claimed he was treated with “rudeness” and a “lack of respect” during his final months at Old Trafford, after being excluded from new manager Ruben Amorim’s plans.

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The Brazilian international was made to train away from the first-team squad and left out of the club’s preseason tour, after being deemed surplus to requirements.

Speaking to ESPN Brasil on Friday, the 25-year-old opened up about the emotional toll of his isolation at the club.

“Look, I’m not the kind of guy who gets involved in controversies, who names people — in fact, I won’t mention anyone’s name here,” he said.

“But I think there was a bit of a lack of respect, even a bit of rudeness too — no one giving you a good morning, a good afternoon. Not even that.”

Despite the sour experience, Antony said he is focused on the future:

“But anyway, that’s in the past. I won’t give much importance to these things. Now I’m here at Real Betis, I’m living here — that’s the most important thing for me.”

Antony rejoined Real Betis this summer following a successful loan spell with the Spanish club during the second half of last season.

The Brazilian winger had joined Manchester United in 2022 for €95 million ($111 million) from Ajax, but struggled to live up to expectations and was widely viewed as a major disappointment at the club.