Taiwo Awoniyi scored twice as Union Berlin rallied back from a goal down to beat Mainz 05 in their Bundesliga clash at the MEWA Arena on Sunday night.
Marcus Ingvarsten put Mainz ahead six minutes before the break after he was set up Kayode Onisiwo.
Awoniyi equalised for the visitors in the 69th minute, Union Berlin’s 100th Bundesliga goal.
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The Nigeria international netted the winning goal in the 73rd minute.
The 24-year-old has now scored five goals in seven league appearances for Union Berlin this season.
Union Berlin now sit in seventh position on the table with 12 points from from seven matches.
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…See how a thread on Taiwo Awoniyi is begging for comments. Proven goalscorer we dey your back!
With very many Super Eagles eligible players nailing down places and hammering home noteworthy performances for their various clubs, it is almost becoming redundant clamouring for their national team invitations.
This weekend, Taiwo Awoniyi grabbed the headlines with 2 well taken goals for Union Berlin to further fuel the fire of calls to be included in future Super Eagles squad.
But to replace who? Perhaps replace Victor Osimhen at the Afcon next year if the Napoli hierarchy succeed in stopping him from attending the tournament!
In truth, Rohr’s Super Eagles has taken shape for the next 2 months. Only dramatic loss of form, injury, illness or bad behaviour can lead to key players being dropped. Failing that, wholesale injection of fresh faces is not expected until after the Afcon tournament.
For now, players like Awoniyi will have to be celebrated for what their club performances bring to fans being that they represent “Nigeria”. Calls to be included in the Super Eagles in the short run are more likely to fall on deaf ears (unless regulars drop out or pull out).
And it is such a pity!
So many exciting players are doing so well; it is so painful not to expect to see them in Super Eagles colours. But that is life; that I’is the reality of having so many players (doing well) to pick from.
Tolu Arokodare: tearing defences apart in Ligue 2 with 3 goals in 9 games.
Orji Okonkwo: setting Serie B ablaze with 5 goals in 9 games.
Sadiq Umar: constantly making a mockery of La Liga 2 defences with 5 goals in 9 games thus far.
These 3 are just a sample of solid players that can be expected to stake a claim in the Super Eagles. Yet again, to replace who? Osimhen? Iheanacho or Onuachu? Moffi?
I guess the consolation is that we now cover should any of the regulars become unavailable. Plus, let’s assume we qualify for the World Cup, competition for places will be fierce.
If our players continue to perform with such healthy outcomes and outputs, then we should expect a very strong squad capable of going far to be gathered from this wide pool of quality players that continue to emerge by the day.
At this rate Awoniyi can not be ignored. I think he’s got about 8 goals now this season and playing in a top league. He sure deserves a call up. Congrats to Kelechi Iheanacho and the celebration of a flying Eagle to cap a nice finish shows that the Eagles are flying to glory in the nearest future. #FLY LIKE AN EAGLE INTO THE FUTURE# By the way @Jimmyball glad to see you back it’s been a minute. Cheers bro let continue the Gbas gbos Lmao!!
Thanks @Ayphillydegreat… I watched Lorient vs Clermont today full match, I also watched Mainz 05 vs Union Berlin Full match… I have the following to say between Taiwo Awoniyi and Terem Moffi.
It appears Terem Moffi was stretched out for posible shoulder injury for a bad landing… let us hope it is not one to rule him out of our games around the corner.
In Terem Moffi’s game today and from close observation of him for some time… I want to state bold though not to debase his game that he has a very poor first touch, his ball anticipation is equally disappointing although he is still developing, he is also heavily left-footed and hardly support himself with his right foot. My overall assessment will be that he needs to be allowed to be a member and part of Super Eagles but he is still somewhere behind the likes of Osimhen, Onuachu, Iheanacho and honestly, he is behind Awoniyi.
On the other hand, Awoniyi produced a masterclass taken Mainz 05 defence to the cleaners on the two occasions he got a difficult one-on-one speed & tussle situation with the Mainz central defence. Awoniyi is of age, tested and impressive and continues to show he is the most direct replacement we have for a Victoresque kind of attacker.
Having followed Awoniyi and Terem for some time, for now, comparing like for like, qualities that make for a complete lethal attacker, it is criminal to say a Terem moffi is actually ahead of Taiwo Awoniyi… in all honesty that suggestion will be seriously false assertion… Please, Gernot Rohr, our dear coach should look objectively and well!
I rest my case on this two…
Well said. All I have always asked for is a level playing field and objectivity in player selection.
Following his brace this evening, Awoniyi was only behind Haaland and Lewandowski on the Bundesliga top scorers chat with 5 goals against the fore mentioned duo’s tally of 7 goals each. However, with his own brace against Arminia this evening too, Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick moved to third place (with 6 goals), leaving Awoniyi in 4th position. But when one considers that those first three leaders on the scorers chat are playing for the three biggest clubs in Bundesliga, you can then appreciate the status that Awoniyi is gradually assuming in the game.
His Super Eagles call-up couldn’t have come at a better time. It is very much merited, even though it sadly came at the expense of Terem Moffi (another solid striker) who suffered an unfortunate injury this evening.
The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed on Sunday evening that the former Liverpool striker ( Taiwo Awoniyi ) has been called up to replace the injured Lorient striker Terem Moffi for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
Source : http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=41274
Awoniyi, gets late call up to Super Eagles
Hallelujah! Sodiq umar is going to be next – another wonderful striker who already have a feeling of what it is like playing for our national teams.
@Christian ministries Nigeria Awoniyi’and Sadiq Uma’ case are not the same, Sadiq has been invited on two or more occasions, but reasons best known to him and his club he refused to show up.
Welcome back @jimmyball. @Deo you said it all. Nothing to add.
Union Berlin record signing showing his worth, scoring the 100th goals for team since being in the bundesliga. Like I said he is good on 1v1 situations and has good dribbling skills. He can move around too. He is just too strong for the backline to handle. The first goal one of the defenders couldn’t stop him
Sometimes he can have off days where he doesn’t score, like he is not consistent, but he is 4th in bundesliga goal scorers right now and sometimes give braces
Terem is coming up and may become very lethal in front of goal in time if he pays his dues by giving himself to training and focusing on his game.
But for now he is way behind the pecking order of strikers the super eagles have in the team.
I cant even compare him with sadiq umar or awoniyi let alone the top three men (Osimhen, iheanacho and onuachu). He needs consistency and patience.
With awoniyi’s invitation to the team, I wont be surprised if onuachu is pushed down the pecking order, especially if he is given his opportunity and he takes it.
The super eagles attack is really packed. I just hope we can get the Same number of talents in our midfield and central defence.