Nottingham Forest has booked their place in the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in 34 years after a nail-biting penalty shoot-out victory over Brighton on Saturday.
The thrilling quarter-final clash at the Amex Stadium ended 0-0 after extra time, leading to a tense shoot-out where Belgian goalkeeper Matz Sels emerged as the hero for Forest.
Sels made crucial saves, denying spot-kicks from Jack Hinshelwood and Diego Gomez. Although Forest’s Neco Williams missed his shot by firing over the bar, teammate Ryan Yates kept his cool and secured the win by confidently slotting home the decisive penalty.
This isn’t the first time Forest has relied on penalties to advance in the competition this season. They previously edged out third-tier Exeter and Premier League side Ipswich Town in shoot-outs during the earlier rounds.
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo praised his team’s resilience and the heroics of Sels, saying, “It was such a stressful moment. Matz saved us again. He’s been doing really well. It’s the third time and we’ve always been successful. Credit to him.”
“We are so happy. It’s a huge moment for all of us to share with our fans. We have to focus on the Premier League but it’s going to be a beautiful moment for all of us on our journey,” Nuno added.
The victory marks a significant milestone for Forest, whose last appearance in the FA Cup semi-finals was in 1989 under the legendary manager Brian Clough. That year, they defeated West Ham before eventually losing to Tottenham in the final.
Nottingham Forest now joins Crystal Palace in the last four, after the Eagles secured a 3-0 win against Fulham in their quarter-final match earlier on Saturday.
Looking ahead, Manchester City will face Bournemouth, and Aston Villa will travel to Championship side Preston on Sunday, as the clubs vie for the remaining semi-final spots in this season’s tournament.
