BUNDESLIGA

Awoniyi the hero as Union stun Bremen

Union Berlin's Nigerian forward Taiwo Awoniyi (C) celebrates scoring the 0-2 during the German first division Bundesliga football match Werder Bremen v Union Berlin on January 2, 2021 in Bremen, northern Germany. (Photo by Patrik STOLLARZ / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO

Union Berlin’s Nigerian forward Taiwo Awoniyi (C) celebrates scoring the 0-2 during the German first division Bundesliga football match Werder Bremen v Union Berlin on January 2, 2021 in Bremen, northern Germany. (Photo by Patrik STOLLARZ / AFP)

Taiwo Awoniyi produced a man of the match performance on Sunday (December 3) as Union Berlin defeated Werder Bremen 2-0 in the Bundesliga.

The Nigerian striker scored and provided an assist for Die Eisernen (The Iron Ones) who have now moved up to fourth on the league standings.

Awoniyi’s first real contribution in the game was in the 12th minute and it culminated in a goal. The former Flying Eagles striker and Sheraldo Becker came up in a two versus two situation against the Bremen defence and he expertly set up his teammate who opened the scoring at Wohninvest Weserstadion.

Awoniyi should have scored in the 16th minute when he got on the end of Marcus Ingvartsen’s lovely flick and with time and space at his disposal, he fired wide. He was to get his goal in the 28th minute as the visitors doubled their advantage and put themselves firmly in the box seat.

Union’s high press broke the Werder Bremen defence as the visitors smelt blood. Robert Andrich then picked out Awoniyi and the striker duly poked past Jiří Pavlenka in the Bremen goal.

It was his fifth league goal of the season following earlier strikes against VfB Stuttgart, Hertha Berlin, Köln and Borussia Dortmund.
Union have now moved into the Champions League places having amassed 24 points from 14th matches.

Tom Kirkwood