Red-hot Awoniyi scores back-to-back braces as Nottingham Forest, Chelsea share spoils

Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi netted back-to-back braces in the Premier League as Nottingham Forest and Chelsea shared the spoils with a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.

Nigeria-eligible winger Noni Madueke started for the Blues and was also decent for the west London side albeit his final decisions after promising moves left much to be desired.

Taiwo Awoniyi dispossessed a Chelsea player of the ball and exploded in anger in the  when Paul Tierney blew for a foul. Chelsea were awarded a free kick from a dangerous position.

Awoniyi then scored in the 13th minute when he got in between goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and  centre back Thiago Silva to head home the ball from a good cross by Renan Lodi.

The goal was his seventh in the Premier League following his pair of goals against Southampton in a 4-3 win at the City Ground on Monday.

Chelsea's Madueke wasted a good opportunity as his pass into the box was blocked by the Forest defence.

The former PSV winger equally created two more promising chances for his teammates but they were cleared.

Keylor Navas pulled off a fantastic save in the 34th minute as Joao Felix attempted to head home after a precise cross into the box.

Moussa Niakhate came close to doubling the lead for Forest four minutes into the second half but it was Chelsea that celebrated in the 51st minute when Raheem Sterling saw his deflected shot inside the penalty box go past the Forest goalie.

Sterling grabbed his brace and his team’s second game in the 58rh minute after the Blues won the ball in the centre of the field by Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

The midfielder found his international teammate, Sterling who  found the top right corner at the edge of the box.

Awoniyi then secured his brace in the game and fourth goal in two matches for his club as he leapt high to connect with a perfect cross in the 62nd minute from Orel Mangala and planted his close-range header into the right side of the goal.

Referee Paul Tierney signaled that indeed that the goal was legitimate after a VAR review.

 
Izuchukwu Michael

Photo Credit : nottinghamforest.co.uk

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