Off the mark: Taiwo Awoniyi starts his Bundesliga season with a bang

The Nigerian striker is off to a good start in Germany as Union Berlin start their season with a home draw against Bayer Leverkusen  

Taiwo Awoniyi scored a superb strike to help Union Berlin to a 1-1 draw against Bayer Leverkusen in their opening Bundesliga game of the season.

Awoniyi spent last season on loan from Liverpool with the Iron Ones, scoring five goals and registering three assists in 21 Bundesliga games.

His performance impressed the Union Berlin hierarchy, who took the option to sign him permanently. He has now continued from where he left off as he helped Urs Fischer’s men to a 1-1 draw.

Awoniyi put the home side ahead in the seventh minute with a powerful strike following a ball from Max Kruse. It, however, took Leverkusen just five minutes to restore parity through Moussa Diaby.

Both sides could not find the winner, although Union came close on four occasions. Nonetheless, Awoniyi would be satisfied with his start to the new season.

The 23-year-old now has one goal and one assist from two games after setting up the goal in the DFB Pokal cup win over Türkgücü München.