Akpom has been in outstanding form this season, and he continued with his superb form against Reading FC
Nigerian striker Chuba Akpom scored a brace for Middlesbrough to help them to a resounding 5-0 victory against Reading FC at the Riverside Stadium.
Akpom has had a great campaign with Middlesbrough this season, and he was looking to go a notch higher when his side welcomed Reading to the Riverside Stadium.
Before the game, the 27-year-old hitman was on 19 goals, and Soccernet reported that Akpom needed one goal to become the first Boro player since Bernie Slavens(1989/90) to score 20+ goals in a league campaign.
Akpom did not need to wait long before he got his chance. Middlesbrough won a penalty in the 24th minute, and the former Arsenal man was on hand to dispatch it calmly to make it 1-0 for his side.
English midfielder Aaron Ramsey scored the second for the home side to give them a two-goal cushion heading into the break.
Middlesbrough entered the second half with a lot of intensity, and they got their third of the game three minutes into the half. And it was none other than their Nigerian lynchpin Akpom.
He scored his second of the game, and it ensured that he equal Slaven's haul of 21 league goals 33 years ago. It also meant that he became the first Boro player to score 14 home goals in one season since Fabrizio Ravanelli in 1996-97.
https://twitter.com/Boro/status/1632072953402671104?t=DkNMaihMmEch_mJ3epbMrw&s=19
Asides from that, Akpom's goal was the 1000th goal for Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.
https://twitter.com/boroform/status/1632050458628857857?t=J1zoWNVTRuu3dUTypcnb1Q&s=19
Chuba Akpom has now netted 14 home league goals for Middlesbrough this season, the most by a player since Fabrizio Ravanelli scored 14 at the Riverside in the 1996-97 campaign. pic.twitter.com/QiLkXllw6W
— BOROSTATS™ (@boroform) March 4, 2023
Despite their 3-0 lead, Middlesbrough did not take their feet off the pedal. Goals from Ramsey and Marcus Forss sealed the 5-0 win for Middlesbrough.
