Awoniyi’s Goal, Aina’s Assist Not Enough as Forest Go Down at West Ham

*Chelsea, Man City share points in eight-goal thriller at Stamford Bridge

Femi Solaja with agency report

Taiwo Awoniyi scored a goal while his Super Eagles teammate, Ola Aina provided an assist but their efforts were not enough to save Nottingham Forest from 3-2 defeat at West Ham yesterday.

This Premier League fixture which is the last for both Super Eagles players before traveling to Nigeria for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe, was full of entertainment.

Tomas Soucek grabbed the late winner as West Ham came from behind to secure all three points.

The result sees West Ham climb up to ninth in the table, while Forest remain in 15th.

However, the most talked about match of the Sunday fixtures was the 4-4 eight-goal thriller between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.

Cole Palmer’s stoppage-time penalty denied former club City victory in the thriller at Stamford Bridge.

In a game of the highest quality in treacherous conditions, fortunes swung both ways.

City thought they had the three points in the bag when Rodri’s shot from the edge of the area touched off Thiago Silva past Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez with four minutes left.

Chelsea, showing superb resilience, were not to be denied and Palmer – a £40m summer signing from Pep Guardiola’s side – stayed cool amid the mayhem to beat Ederson from the spot to leave City just a point clear of Liverpool at the Premier League summit.

The reigning champions led in contentious fashion after 25 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for Marc Cucurella’s pull on Erling Haaland, despite Chelsea’s protests that the full-back had been fouled first.

Haaland dispatched the penalty with ease, but the hosts were level four minutes later when Brazil centre-back Silva glanced home Conor Gallagher’s corner at the near post.

Chelsea turned the game around when Raheem Sterling also scored against his former club after 37 minutes, turning in Reece James’ cross after Josko Gvardiol’s mistake.

City, though, levelled on the stroke of half-time when the unmarked Manuel Akanji headed in Bernardo Silva’s cross.

Two minutes after the break City went in front again when Haaland scrambled in Julian Alvarez’s cross at the far post.

Yet Chelsea again battled back and deservedly drew level in the 67th minute when Nicolas Jackson pounced after Ederson pushed out Gallagher’s low drive.

Guardiola’s side thought they had won it with Rodri’s stroke of good fortune – until the late penalty drama capped an entertaining, eventful encounter.

RESULTS

Premier League

Aston Villa 3-1 Fulham

Brighton 1-1 Sheffield

Liverpool 3-0 Brentford

West Ham 3-2 Forest

Chelsea 4-4 Man City

LaLiga

Barcelona 2-1 Alaves

Sevilla 1-1 Betis

Serie A

Napoli 0-1 Empoli