Nigerian forward Chuba Akpom was on the scoresheet once again as Middlesbrough completed a 3-1 comeback win over Swansea City in the English Championship on Saturday.
The 27-year-old, who recently became the first Boro player since Bernie Slaven in 1990 to score 20 league goals, converted a penalty deep in the game at the Liberty Stadium to seal all available points for the away side.
That'll do very nicely ???? #UTB pic.twitter.com/hDdJCc3oWs
— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) March 11, 2023
Dutch forward Joel Piroe gave the Swans a surprising lead early in the game with his 14th goal of the season, but quickfire goals from Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey and Aston Villa loanee Cameron Archer in the second half helped Michael Carrick’s team turn the tie around.
Akpom then slotted in a calmly taken penalty in the 77th minute after Swansea defender Joel Latibeaudiere brought down Australian midfielder Riley McGree in the danger area. The goal was the Nigerian’s 22nd in the English second division, as he maintains his spot as the league’s leading scorer.
The Riverside outfit has now hit at least three goals in six of their last eight games, and Akpom has nine goals across that period, helping them to their first league double over Swansea since the 1964-65 season and their first win at the Liberty Stadium since 2009.
Boro continue to push for a top-two finish, with seven wins in their last eight matches, losing only to West Brom in that stretch and scoring 22 goals in total.
They are now on 63 points after 36 matches, four points behind second-placed Sheffield United, who occupy the final automatic qualification spot after losing 1-0 at Bramall Lane to fourth-placed Luton Town.
