Nottingham Forest secured a place in the Europa League semi-finals with a 1-0 victory over Porto at the City Ground, triumphing 2-1 on aggregate. They will face Premier League rivals Aston Villa for a place in the final.
The match was overshadowed by the absence of midfielder Elliot Anderson, who missed the game following the death of his mother. Morgan Gibbs-White scored the only goal in the 12th minute and held up a shirt bearing Anderson's name with the message “Family first. We are all with you.” The “Geordie Maradona” chant echoed around the stadium in support, and after the final whistle players and staff posed with the shirt in front of fans.
Porto were reduced to ten men when Jan Bednarek was sent off for a tackle on Chris Wood. The visitors twice hit the woodwork and pushed for an equaliser, but Forest held on. Manager Vitor Pereira praised his side's resilience.
However, the win came at a cost. Wood was forced off after Bednarek's challenge but indicated he “should be OK”. Murillo also departed with a problem in the 72nd minute, while Callum Hudson-Odoi was seen on crutches after being substituted. The extent of their injuries is not yet known.
Forest are now in their first European semi-final since 1984, continuing a remarkable campaign. Under Pereira, the side have shown unity and determination as they balance European success with a Premier League survival battle.
