'I’ve waited for this moment for years' – Awoniyi on his dream start for Union Berlin

Nigerian forward Taiwo Awoniyi has expressed his delight at opening his goals account as a complete Union Berlin player after helping the German side claim a fine draw against Bayer Leverkusen at the weekend.

Awoniyi brought an end to his six-year association with Liverpool when he signed a long-term contract with Union this summer, which reportedly made him the club’s highest signing.

The former Nigerian youth international was brilliant for Urs Fischer’s men last season, scoring five goals while showing a fine aptitude for the German top-flight.

And he has picked up from where he left off in May, after providing the winner for the Iron Ones in their DFP Pokal triumph at Turkgucu Munich.

And in his third Bundesliga debut, Awoniyi needed only seven minutes to register his name in the goalscorer’s chart.

The 24-year-old striker received a fine pass from Max Kruse, drove goalwards, and smashed an unstoppable 18-yard strike over the despairing dive of Lukas Hradecky. Awoniyi’s strike is the quickest goal of the new Bundesliga season so far.

Moussa Diaby equalised for the visitors five minutes later to ensure a share of the spoils, but it still didn’t dampen Awoniyi’s delight on his Bundesliga return.

For me, I think (this moment) is what I’ve waited for, for many years. I’m really happy I can achieve it this year and I’m back again in Berlin,” Awoniyi told Bundesliga.com.

Awoniyi was nurtured at the Imperial Soccer Academy before he helped Nigeria win the trophies at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup and the 2015 African U-20 Championship.

Liverpool snapped him up in 2015, but he didn’t feature in any competitive match for the Anfield giants in his more than half a decade stay with the club.

He, however, spent productive loan spells at FSV Frankfurt, NEC, Mouscron, and Mainz 05, before landing at Union Berlin last year.