Taiwo Awoniyi proves his worth off bench as Nottingham Forest tear Sunderland apart

April 25, 2026 Chichetam

Nigerian forward Taiwo Awoniyi made a telling impact off the bench as Nottingham Forest stormed to a dominant 5-0 victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

The Super Eagles striker needed just minutes to influence the game, capping off a ruthless team performance with a late assist.

Taiwo Awoniyi delivers instant impact in Nottingham Forest rout

Introduced late for Chris Wood with only two minutes of normal time left on the clock, Taiwo Awoniyi wasted no time making his presence felt.

Within seven minutes on the pitch, he provided a simple but decisive pass that allowed Elliot Anderson to complete the five-star display.

It marked Awoniyi’s first assist of the season and his third goal contribution in 13 appearances, a return that reflects his limited minutes.

For a player often restricted to substitute roles, this cameo could be a timely boost in his push for more regular action before end of season.

Awoniyi gains momentum as Forest dominate Sunderland

Before Awoniyi’s late contribution, Nottingham Forest had already done the damage with a blistering first-half display. The visitors raced into a four-goal lead, starting with an own goal from Trai Hume.

A goalkeeping error then gifted Chris Wood an easy finish, before Morgan Gibbs-White added a third with a composed strike.

Igor Jesus capped the first-half dominance with a powerful volley, leaving the home crowd stunned.

Sunderland showed brief signs of a response after the break, but a goal from Dan Ballard was ruled out following a VAR review.

Forest stayed disciplined defensively and sealed the result late on through Anderson, assisted by Awoniyi.

The result extends Nottingham Forest’s unbeaten run to eight matches and lifts them further clear of the relegation zone. It also builds confidence ahead of their crucial European clash with Aston Villa.

For Taiwo Awoniyi, the assist ends a wait for a goal contribution since March and offers renewed momentum at a key stage of the season.