Awoniyi marks Super Eagles call-up with brace in Union Berlin win
Union Berlin and new Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi continued his blistering start to life at the German Bundesliga side by scoring a brace to help his side secure a vital 2-1 win over his former side Mainz 05.
Mainz took the lead at home through midfielder Marcus Ingvartsen only six minutes before the conclusion of the first half after the midfielder converted a square pass by Karim Onisiwo from inside the Union Berlin area.
Union Berlin had the chance to equalise just before the hour mark through Awoniyi, but the striker snatched at his finish and saw his effort fly narrowly wide of the far post after receiving a pass from Max Kruse inside the Mainz penalty box.
Awoniyi finally made amends for his earlier scuffed effort with a brilliant finish in the 69th minute to draw his side level. The 24-year-old striker latched on to a brilliant through ball from Kruse and made good use of his 6’4 frame to hold off his marker before slotting the ball under the goalkeeper.
Only four minutes later, Awoniyi repeated the same trick as the Super Eagles striker received the ball in a similar position from which he scored the first goal after a header ricocheted off teammate Kevin Behrens, and the striker squeezed the ball under the Mainz keeper to put his side in front for the first time in the match.
Awoniyi has been in sensational form for Union Berlin this season, scoring eight goals and assisting two more in only 12 appearances since making his switch permanent from Liverpool over the summer, and that has earned him a first call-up to Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
Awoniyi got his Super Eagles call-up after misfortune struck and Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi picked up an injury and had to be dropped from the squad to face Central African Republic, and his replacement Terem Moffi also pulled up with an injury days after being named in Iwobi’s stead.
Awoniyi would hope that Super Eagles boss Gernot Rohr gives him a chance to impress and possibly link up with u-17 teammate Kelechi Iheanacho, who is more of a regular in the national set up.
