N ottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi experienced a night of highs and lows as he scored but later left the pitch on a stretcher during his side’s dramatic FA Cup fourth-round clash against Exeter City.
While Forest eventually secured victory via penalties, the Nigerian international’s injury overshadowed the celebrations at St James’ Park on Tuesday night.
A Night of Mixed Emotions
Awoniyi put Forest ahead in the 37th minute, converting a well-placed effort that gave the Premier League side control. However, his night took a distressing turn deep into stoppage time when he suffered a brutal collision with Exeter goalkeeper Joe Whitworth while contesting a high ball.
Whitworth’s attempted clearance inadvertently struck Awoniyi in the face, leaving the striker bloodied and requiring urgent medical attention. Medics from both teams rushed onto the pitch, treating him for nearly ten minutes before he was stretchered off to applause from the crowd.
Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo later confirmed that Awoniyi had likely broken his nose but remained in good spirits.
“I think he broke his nose, but he’s walking around smiling. He did an amazing job, he did really well today,” Nuno said in a post-match statement.
Forest Prevail in Penalty Shootout
Despite Awoniyi’s setback, Forest managed to scrape past a determined Exeter side in a match that was anything but straightforward.
The lower-league hosts stunned their top-flight opponents with an early fifth-minute goal from Josh Magennis, but Forest responded quickly as Ramon Sosa equalized five minutes later. Awoniyi’s goal gave Forest a 2-1 lead before the break, but Magennis struck again in the 50th minute to level the score and send the home fans into a frenzy.
Exeter’s hopes suffered a blow in the 87th minute when Ed Turns received a straight red card for a high challenge on Morgan Gibbs-White. However, despite being reduced to ten men, the underdogs resisted Forest’s relentless attacks, forcing extra time.
Forest registered 31 shots in total, with Jota Silva coming closest in extra time when his effort rattled the crossbar. But with neither side able to find a winner, the tie was decided from the spot.
Spot-Kick Drama Sends Forest Through
Forest’s superior quality shone in the penalty shootout, with Chris Wood, Morgan Gibbs-White, Elliot Anderson, and Neco Williams all converting their efforts.
Exeter, however, faltered under pressure. Substitute goalkeeper Matz Sels saved Reece Cole’s penalty before Angus MacDonald struck the crossbar, sealing a 4-2 shootout victory for Forest.
What’s Next for Forest and Awoniyi?
With their FA Cup journey still alive, Forest now prepares for a fifth-round clash against fellow Premier League side Ipswich Town. However, Awoniyi’s condition remains a concern, with further assessments expected in the coming days.
As Forest continues their campaign, Nuno acknowledged Exeter’s resilience and the challenges his side faced.
“It was a hard game. We started in a bad way but the response was good. We had another setback after half-time and it became so hard,” he admitted.
“Credit to Exeter. I am happy in the end that we are going through.”
With fitness concerns mounting, Forest will need to balance squad rotation as they push forward in both the FA Cup and Premier League.
0 Comments