Third in the Premier League, and now into the last four of the FA Cup. This truly could become a season for the ages for Nottingham Forest, who are routinely showing a character and resilience that few teams can match.
This latest FA Cup win, against an in-form Brighton, was their third consecutive penalty shoot-out victory in the competition. That statistic alone speaks volumes of the mental strength of Nuno Espirito Santo’s players, and indeed the quality of Matz Sels, their hugely impressive goalkeeper.
Sels saved twice in the shoot-out, denying Jack Hinshelwood and Diego Gómez, to allow Forest captain Ryan Yates the opportunity of winning the match from 12 yards. It was a chance he took with absolute relish, before sprinting the length of the field to celebrate in front of the travelling supporters. The Forest fans continue to dream the wildest of dreams, and they sang here about going to both the Champions League and to Wembley.
RYAN YATES SENDS NOTTINGHAM FOREST THROUGH TO THE FA CUP SEMI-FINAL 👏#FACuppic.twitter.com/S4eKMwF4wD
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) March 29, 2025
The last time these teams met, the afternoon had gone so badly for Brighton that their head coach, Fabian Hürzeler, literally set fire to his tactical game-plan. That was a humiliating 7-0 loss in February, and Hurzeler was quick to scrub it from the minds of his players.
This performance was a far more evenly-fought affair, so much so that it became something of a non-affair for much of the evening. Forest were far from dominant in the game but they will feel vindicated after being on the wrong end of a controversial penalty decision, when Kaoru Mitoma’s apparent foul on Elliot Anderson went unpunished.
Full report to follow
08:20 PM GMT
The semi-final draw takes place tomorrow
Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest are in the hat. Will Aston Villa or Preston North End, Bournemouth or Manchester City, join them. Villa and City if the trend is for two-word clubs rather than ones and fours so far.
08:17 PM GMT
Ryan Yates speaks to BBC Sport
I was a bit nervous to be fair and I was so relieved when it went in. Mats saved two penalties and I thought I’ve got to capitalise and take us to Wembley.
It’s an incredible season. We’ve achieved nothing yet but to send these lot [gestures to the fans] to Wembley again after last time [play-off final] I’m so pleased for them.
08:12 PM GMT
Yates sets off up the other end
Like a young David Pleat galloping upfield with the bench and his colleagues in tow to slide in front of the away fans and ignite the celebrations of reaching their first Cup semi for 34 years.
08:10 PM GMT
Yates scores
Forest win 4-3 on penalties. Wembley here they come.
Whacked it into the bottom left.
08:10 PM GMT
Dunk scores
Same way as Milenkovic. Sidefoot into the bottom right.
Brighton 3 Forest 3
08:09 PM GMT
Milenkovic scores
But only just. Slips it under Verbruggen’s ...
