Nottingham Forest secured their place in the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in 34 years, overcoming Brighton & Hove Albion in a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout victory at the Amex Stadium on Saturday evening. The match, which ended goalless after 120 minutes of tense and gritty football, showcased Forestâs resilience and composure under pressure, propelling them to Wembley for the semi-finals scheduled for late April.
The quarter-final clash between two Premier League high-flyers was a tale of defensive solidity rather than attacking flair. Both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances, with fatigue from a recent international breakâBrighton players clocked 86,208 miles and Forestâs 83,054âseemingly taking its toll. The game, played in front of a near-capacity crowd at Falmer Stadium, remained locked at 0-0 through regular and extra time, setting the stage for a nerve-wracking shootout.
Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels emerged as the hero, saving two penalties from Brightonâs takers, while captain Ryan Yates sealed the victory with the decisive spot-kick. Anderson, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Nikola Milenkovic also converted their efforts, giving Forest a 4-3 edge after Brightonâs Lewis Dunk and others found the net but couldnât overcome Selsâ heroics. Yates later admitted to BBC Sport, âI was a bit nervous, to be fair, just so relieved it went in. Matz saved two penalties, and I just knew I had to capitalize and send us to Wembley.â
The match itself was a scrappy affair, punctuated by injuries, stoppages, and a controversial VAR decision that overturned a penalty initially awarded to Forest. In the second half, Kaoru Mitomaâs challenge on Elliot Anderson had referee Peter Bankes pointing to the spot, only for VAR to intervene, ruling no foul had been committed. Forestâs bench erupted in frustration, but their focus held firm as the game stretched into extra time.
Brighton came closest to breaking the deadlock late on when Diego Gomez tested Sels with a fierce shot, only for the Belgian keeper to produce a stunning save. Forest, missing talismanic striker Chris Wood, relied on the pace of Anthony Elanga and Morgan Gibbs-White, who went agonizingly close with a header in stoppage time, but Brightonâs Jan Paul van Hecke cleared off the line.
Head coach Nuno EspĂrito Santo praised his teamâs determination post-match, telling reporters, âPerfection doesnât exist, but we did really well to control Brighton in terms of their possession. We had chances, they had chancesâit was a beautiful moment for all of us on our journey.â For Forest, this marks their third consecutive FA Cup penalty shootout win this season, having previously dispatched Exeter City and Ipswich Town in similar fashion.
Brighton, meanwhile, rue a missed opportunity to reach their third FA Cup semi-final in seven years. Despite their attacking prowessâevidenced by a 7-0 thrashing of Forest in the Premier League earlier this seasonâthe Seagulls managed just one shot on target across two hours of play. The loss may come at a further cost, with concerns over potential injuries to key players like Adam Webster and Georginio Rutter, who were substituted during the match.
Forestâs remarkable season continues apace. Sitting third in the Premier League, they now turn their attention to a midweek clash with Manchester United, but the prospect of Champions League qualification and an FA Cup triumph looms large. Brighton, seventh in the league, host Aston Villa on Wednesday, hoping to regroup after this disappointment.