Taiwo Awoniyi fires Gent to Europa League playoffs
Nigeria striker Taiwo Awoniyi has fired his Belgian side Gent to the 2018-19 Europa League playoffs after helping them secure a 3-1 win against Polish club Jagiellonia at the Ghelamco Arena in their third round qualifying match on Thursday.
The FIFA U-17 World Cup winner on loan from Liverpool opened his account for his new club after scoring from Franko Andrijasevic fine ball.
Awoniyi’s goal in the 13th minutes was all that separated the two sides at half time.
The visitors who must score two unreplied goals to win the tie after losing the first leg 1-0 in their stadium scored in the 58th minutes through Taras Romanczuk to pile pressure on Awoniyi and co.
But Roman Yaremchuk beauty in the 84th minutes restored Gent’s lead before Jonathan David wrapped things up in the 89th minutes to confirm the Belgian side’s place in the final round of qualifications after winning 4-1 on aggregate.
The goal is Taiwo Awoniyi first in Gent’s colour. He has played in three Belgian division a games and two Europa League games.
