Nottingham Forest made history on Tuesday night, securing a 1-0 victory over Manchester United at the City Ground to complete their first league double over the Red Devils since 1992, Soccernet.ng reports.
Super Eagles duo Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi both featured in the starting lineup for Forest, but the night was bittersweet for the Nigerian contingent.
While Awoniyi played a key role in leading the attack, Aina was forced off after just 39 minutes due to injury, making way for Alex Moreno.
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The match was decided by a moment of sheer brilliance from Anthony Elanga, who came back to haunt his former club with a sensational solo effort.
Just five minutes into the contest, the Swedish winger picked up the ball deep in his own half following a United corner, sprinted the entire length of the pitch in just nine seconds, and calmly slotted a low shot past André Onana.
Elanga’s goal capped a determined Forest performance, with the home side defending resolutely to frustrate United’s attack.
Despite throwing men forward, Ruben Amorim’s men struggled to break down a disciplined Forest side, with the visitors now having won just four of their last 14 league matches.
Awoniyi, leading the line in place of the injured Chris Wood, was a constant presence in Forest’s attack. The former Union Berlin striker put in a tireless shift before making way for Ibrahim Sangaré in the 85th minute.
Aina, meanwhile, endured a frustrating evening. The former Chelsea and Torino full-back had been impressive in recent weeks, playing a full 120 minutes in Forest’s FA Cup quarter-final win over Brighton and starring for Nigeria in their World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
However, his early withdrawal will be a concern for both club and country.
In contrast, Manchester United’s disappointing campaign continues, as they remain stuck in 13th place with just 37 points, increasing pressure on Portuguese manager Amorim.
