Friday, April 19, 2024

Terrific Awoniyi scores first Bundesliga spot kick

Uba Group

BY ANDREW EKEJIUBA

Former Liverpool striker Taiwo Awoniyi continued his career-best scoring season with another goal for Union Berlin in a 1-1 draw with VfB Stuttgart in a Bundesliga match played at Stadion An der Alten Försterei at the weekend.

When he found the net against his former club Mainz 05 on February 26, the 2013 U17 World Cup winner set a personal record of goals in a single season with 15 in all competitions, surpassing the 14 he netted during loan spells with KAA Gent and Royal Excel Mouscron during the 2018-2019 campaign.

Awoniyi has now scored 16 goals in 34 all-competition appearances for Union Berlin so far in 2021-2022.

The Super Eagles dare-devil striker was presented with an opportunity to open the scoring from the spot in the 41st minute after a handball by Konstantinos Mavropanos and he sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to give Union Berlin the lead.

It was the first time in Awoniyi’s Bundesliga career that he has taken and scored a penalty kick.

The 24-year-old has been banging the goals in regularly for Union Berlin in the German top-flight this season, eleven in total, averaging 142 minutes per goal in 23 appearances in the division.

Union Berlin were denied all three points after Kalajdzic’s last-minute leveller cancelled out Awoniyi’s spirited effort.

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