Match hero Taiwo Awoniyi reflects on team effort after Chelsea triumph

Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi delivered a memorable performance and then turned the spotlight on his teammates after firing Nottingham Forest F.C. to a convincing 3-1 victory over Chelsea F.C. in the Premier League on Monday.

The striker was the difference on the night, scoring twice and winning a penalty in what marked his 100th appearance for Forest across all competitions. His contribution proved decisive as Forest stunned the hosts at Stamford Bridge, condemning Chelsea to a sixth straight league defeat in a run that continues to deepen their struggles.

Awoniyi wasted no time in making his presence felt, opening the scoring just 98 seconds into the contest with a sharp finish that set the tone for the visitors. His influence did not stop there, as he later won a penalty after being fouled by Malo Gusto, allowing Igor Jesus to double Forest’s advantage from the spot in the 15th minute.

The striker returned after the break to seal his brace, calmly tapping in a delivery from Morgan Gibbs-White to put the result beyond doubt. Although João Pedro grabbed a late consolation for Chelsea, it did little to take the shine off a dominant Forest display led by Awoniyi.

Despite his standout performance, Awoniyi was quick to shift the focus away from individual praise, emphasising the collective effort behind the victory.

“Football is a team game, everyone needs to be ready and it’s not about everyone starting it’s about the team.

“We came here with the mentality to win, good ball from [Dilane] Bakwa [for his goal] as well and the way we started the game, we had more of the ball, brilliant from the team.

“Kudos to the manager and the staff – not only the people on the ground but the nutritionists, physio. It’s all about the team and looking forward to the next game. I believe it could be an amazing season for us.”

His words reflected a player grounded in team success, even on a personal milestone night. The performance further strengthened Awoniyi’s impressive record against Chelsea, a side he now seems to relish facing, with four goals in six appearances against the Blues.

As Forest look ahead to the remainder of the season, Awoniyi’s form and mentality could prove vital, with the striker clearly focused not just on goals, but on driving the team toward a strong finish.