Awoniyi Scores First Goal in 12 Months as Man Utd Stun Arsenal in Five Goal Thriller

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Taiwo Awoniyi came off the bench in the 68th minute to score his first goal in almost 12 months as  Nottingham Forest defeated Brentford 2-0 in a Premier League fixture on Sunday afternoon in London.

The goal was the second of the day for Nottingham who were shot into the lead in the 12th minute by Igor Jesus. The maximum three points have now moved Nottingham to safety on same 25 points as 16th placed Leeds United.

The 28-year-old Nigerian international forward, collected  a long pass, waltz pass a Brentford defender before slamming home for his first goal of the season.

Typical of Awoniyi, he went emotional, displaying the sign of the Cross etched on his two shin pads. It was indeed worth celebrating for the player who went into  induced coma at the tail end of last season after he suffered an abdominal injury after collision with the goalpost.

He was Man-of-the-Match with a personal rating of 8.0 points.

Meanwhile, Matheus Cunha scored a dramatic late winner for Manchester United as they defeated Premier League leaders Arsenal 3-2 in a five-goal thriller at Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners’ first home defeat of the season, following wins for their title rivals Manchester City and Aston Villa, means their lead has been narrowed to four points.

Arsenal had started the match extremely well, taking the lead when United defender Lisandro Martinez put the ball into his own net in the 29th minute.

The hosts gifted Manchester United a route back into the match when Martin Zubimendi’s loose pass put Bryan Mbeumo through on goal and the United striker calmly went past David Raya and put the ball into an empty net.

United then shocked the home side, taking the lead five minutes into the second half through a superb strike from Patrick Dorgu, who hammered in a shot off the underside of the crossbar.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta tried to force a turnaround in the match as he made a quadruple change, throwing on Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze, Mikel Merino and Ben White. It was Merino who thought he had rescued at least a point when he bundled in from a corner in the 84th minute.

However, just three minutes later, substitute Cunha picked up a pass from Kobbie Mainoo and curled a superb strike into the bottom corner from about 25 yards out. The win moves Manchester United into fourth place.

RESULTS

Premier League

Brentford 0-2 Nottingham

Cry’Palace 1-3 Chelsea

Newcastle 0-2 Aston Villa

Arsenal 2-3 Man Utd

Serie A

Sassuolo 1-0 Cremonese

Atalanta 4-0 Parma

Genoa 3-2 Bologna

Juventus 3-0 Napoli

La Liga

Atletico 3-0 Mallorca

Barcelona 3-0 Oviedo

Socieda  3-1 Celta Vigo

NPFL

El Kanemi 1-0 Ikorodu

Barau FC 1-1 Bayelsa

Abia War 1-2 Nasarawa

Tornadoes 2-0 Enyimba

Rangers 4-2 W’Wolves

Shooting 1-0 B’Insurance

Wikki    2-0 K’Pillars