Chelsea 1-3 Nottingham Forest: 3 records Super Eagles’ Awoniyi shaved at Stamford Bridge

Nigeria international Taiwo Awoniyi played a crucial record-breaking role in Nottingham Forest’s impressive 3-1 Premier League win against Chelsea at the Stamford Bridge on Monday afternoon, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Super Eagles striker netted a stunning brace to power struggling Nottingham Forest to a win that derails Chelsea’s hopes of finishing in a Champions League spot.

Igor Jesus scored the other goal for Forest from the penalty spot but all the spotlight will be on Awoniyi, who secured a first Premier League brace since finding the net twice in a 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in 2023. The 27-year-old thus becomes the first Nigerian to score twice in two different games at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea.

Former Arsenal man Nwankwo Kanu is the only other Nigerian to score multiple goals in a single match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Awoniyi records wreck Chelsea

Awoniyi’s first goal on Tuesday, on his 100th Forest appearance, came with barely two minutes on the clock. Dilane Bakwa got a yard of space on the right and put in a perfect cross for an unmarked Awoniyi at the back post to gleefully nod into the net.

That goal broke a 13-year record at Stamford Bridge. There were only 97 seconds on the clock when the Nigerian’s header hit the back of the net. And according to the BBC, it is the earliest Premier League away goal vs Chelsea since December, 2013 when Jay Rodriguez scored for Southampton after 13 seconds.

Shortly after, Awoniyi won the penalty off Malo Gusto from which Jesus doubled Forest’s advantage in the 15th minute.

Awoniyi completed his brace seven minutes into the second half after poking home, from close range, a brilliantly low Morgan Gibbs-White cross.

With his double, Awoniyi now has 21 career Premier League goals, moving him into the top ten and above former Chelsea winger Victor Moses on the list of all-time Nigerian scorers in the competition.

Having also managed 21 strikes during his time in Germany, Awoniyi becomes the first and only Nigerian to score 20 or more goals in the Premier League and the Bundesliga.

The win lifts Nottingham Forest to 16th position on the EPL table and, with a six-point cushion on the relegation zone, has all but secured their top-flight status for at least one more season.