Awoniyi ends goal drought, on target for Mainz

Super Eagles star Taiwo Awoniyi came off the bench to net his first Bundesliga goal of 2022 and helped Union Berlin secure a three-match losing streak with a 3-1 home win over Mainz on Saturday. 

Awoniyi had been stuck on nine Bundesliga goals for several weeks, with the former Liverpool signing not hitting the net for Urs Fischer’s men since scoring in the 2-1 defeat of RB Leipzig on December 3rd, a run of 444 minutes. 

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Still, it was a surprise to see the former Golden Eaglets star left out of the starting lineup, with Union’s boss preferring Sheraldo Becker and Andreas Voglsammer in the attack against Mainz. 

Taiwo Awoniyi @taiwoawoniyi18 comes off the bench to score his 10th Bundesliga goal of the season in Union Berlin’s home win. pic.twitter.com/Jfog2xLlXk

— Home of Nigerian Footballers (@EaglesTrackerNG) February 26, 2022

And Becker repaid his manager’s trust by doubling the home side’s advantage ten minutes into the second period after Genki Haraguchi had given them a seventh-minute lead. Awoniyi entered the fray in the 67th minute after Dominik Kohr had been sent off for the visitors. 

📝 A 3-1 victory for 1. FC Union Berlin at home to @Mainz05en as we return to winning ways. #FCUM05 | #fcunion | 3-1https://t.co/QFNFqq1bSz

— 1. FC Union Berlin (@fcunion_en) February 26, 2022

And the Nigerian international made his presence felt with a composed finish eight minutes later, following more good work from Becker. 

TheNation/Nnenna.O