Nottingham Forest on Thursday seized the advantage in their UEFA Europa League semi-final against Aston Villa as Chris Wood’s penalty sealed a 1-0 win in the first leg.
Wood netted from the spot in the second half after a needless handball by Villa defender Lucas Digne in the all-English clash at the City Ground in Nottingham.
The New Zealand striker’s fifth goal of an injury-plagued season moved Forest within touching distance of their first European final since 1980.
Photo: Reuters
Vitor Pereira’s side are on a nine-match unbeaten run in all competitions, carrying them five points clear of the English Premier League relegation zone and to the brink of the Europa League showpiece.
Forest are to travel to Villa Park for the second leg on Thursday next week, with the winners facing SC Braga or SC Freiburg in the final in Istanbul on May 20.
Braga’s Mario Dorgeles scored in stoppage-time to give the hosts a 2-1 win over Freiburg in the first leg of their semi-final. Demir Ege Tiknaz opened the scoring early for the hosts, before Vincenzo Grifo quickly leveled for Freiburg.
“It’s nice to have the advantage, but going to Villa Park will be a tough game. They’re good at their place,” Wood said. “It’s small moments that can potentially change games. Thankfully, it went in our favor tonight.”
Making it to Istanbul would be a dramatic finale to Forest’s soap-opera season, featuring four head coaches and a tense relegation battle.
After the sacking of Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou and Sean Dyche, Pereira had led Forest to their first European semi-final since losing against RSC Anderlecht in the 1983-1984 UEFA Cup.
Villa threatened in the frantic early stages when Youri Tielemans’ long-range blast forced a good save from Stefan Ortega.
They were quickly back on the attack as Ollie Watkins picked out Morgan Rogers for a curler that Ortega saved at full stretch.
Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson escaped a red card for his ugly tackle on Watkins and the hosts gradually found their stride after the early Villa assault.
Anderson’s deft chipped pass reached Morgan Gibbs-White and his cross found Igor Jesus for a close-range volley that Emiliano Martinez repelled with a brilliant one-handed stop.
Watkins should have turned in Rogers’ shot early in the second half, but the striker miscued his effort straight at Ortega.
There was little to separate the teams and when the opening goal arrived in the 71st minute it came with a helping hand from Digne.
Omari Hutchinson chased an overhit cross and hooked it back in play just before the ball crossed the byline, with Digne foolishly sticking his arm up to block it.
A video assistant referee check confirmed the ball had not gone out of play and Wood stepped up to lash the penalty past Martinez.
The City Ground was rocking and Forest held firm to secure a victory that took them to the verge of an historic achievement.
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