New Delhi: Nottingham Forest was out of both domestic cup tournaments and just above the Premier League relegation zone in March 2024 after being docked points. After defeating Brighton in a penalty shootout, they are now dominating the league and have advanced to their first FA Cup semi-final in thirty-four years. Matz Sels made two vital stops from spot kicks in front of the Amex crowd to preserve Forest’s prospects of winning the FA Cup for the first time since 1959.
In addition to being in third place in the top tier, the Tricky Trees are in a strong position to return to European play after more than 28 years away and earn a spot in the Champions League next season. That alone should be cause for celebration.
“It’s been an incredible season,” Ryan Yates, the Forest captain who netted the game-winning penalty, told BBC One. He further claimed that although they haven’t accomplished anything yet, they are excited to bring the supporters back to Wembley since everyone remembers how amazing their promotion was the last time.
He stated, “It will be a special day and I am so pleased for the supporters and overall I think we deserved it.”
For the first time in 34 years. pic.twitter.com/G5x8iKIuNy
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) March 29, 2025
Forest look relentless with penalty shootouts
This season, Forest has made penalty shootouts their standard in the FA Cup. Nuno Espirito Santo’s team needed penalty kicks to defeat League One’s Exeter City and then Premier League struggling Ipswich after a resounding 2-0 victory over Luton in the third round. After a dull game with few clear-cut opportunities, Brighton and Forest faced off in a third consecutive shootout on the south coast, with little separating them.
After going the correct route to block a drab shot from Jack Hinshelwood, Sels stood up and received a solid hand to Diego Gomez’s forceful blow. The Belgium goalie later remarked, “In penalty shootouts you always need a little bit of luck but I’m really happy.”
Sels, who has maintained 12 league clean sheets this season, played a key role in both of Forest’s prior shootout victories. In the fourth round, he stopped one of Exeter’s spot penalties to seal the victory against Ipswich. Yates, completed the win, making Forest the first club to win three FA Cup penalty shootouts in a single season.
Nottingham Forest have reached their first FA Cup semi-final since 1991 after defeating Brighton on penalties, marking a historic achievement for the club. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
