Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi on Monday netted the third Premier League brace in his career as Nottingham Forest defeated Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge. The Nigerian international needed only two minutes to put Forest ahead, scoring from an assist by Dilane Bakwa.
First Half Dominance
Igor Jesus made it 2-0 in favor of the Tricky Trees, converting a penalty in the 15th minute after the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) awarded Forest a spot kick. The Brazilian attacker's goal gave Forest a comfortable lead heading into halftime.
Second Half Brilliance
On the resumption of the second half, Awoniyi got his second goal of the game in the 52nd minute, this time set up by Morgan Gibbs-White, to put Forest into a commanding 3-0 lead. The goal effectively sealed the match for the visitors.
With the game winding down, Brazilian striker Joao Pedro scored a consolatory goal for Chelsea in the 93rd minute, but it was too little too late for the hosts.
Awoniyi's Premier League Record
According to statistics, Awoniyi has now scored braces on three occasions in the Premier League for Forest. Notably, he scored back-to-back braces in May 2023, with two goals in a 4-3 win against Southampton and another brace in a 2-2 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The victory moves Forest up the table, while Chelsea will look to bounce back in their next fixture.
