Matz Sels was the hero in a penalty shootout as Nottingham Forest edged Ipswich to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals. The match, which had little excitement until late on, saw George Hirst and Ryan Yates score for their respective teams in the second half, but neither side could find a winner in normal or extra time. The shootout ultimately decided the outcome, with Sels saving Jack Taylor’s penalty to give Forest a 5-4 victory.
Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo, who admitted he couldn’t bear to watch the shootout, expressed his delight after the win. “We have so many hopes in the FA Cup, we want to go as far as we can. Winning on penalties puts you on a high. They were good penalties,” he said. He also praised Sels for his crucial save and acknowledged the importance of the victory for the club.
The win marked Forest’s first quarter-final appearance in the FA Cup in 29 years. Ipswich had taken the lead through Hirst’s header early in the second half, but Forest responded quickly. Yates’ header from a cross by Anthony Elanga brought them level. From that point, Forest had the momentum and came close to winning in normal time. Yates had a header ruled offside, while Murillo forced a fine save from Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer. Callum Hudson-Odoi also hit the crossbar with a shot from the edge of the area, ensuring that extra time was needed.
Extra time proved uneventful, with both teams resorting to long throw-ins and scrappy play in the box. The shootout, however, brought a dramatic end to the match. Both teams scored their first four penalties before Taylor’s miss gave Forest the advantage. Despite diving the wrong way for the first four kicks, Sels saved Taylor’s shot, sending Forest into the next round, where they will face Brighton, a team they recently beat 7-0.
Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna expressed his pride in his team’s performance, despite the painful loss. “Really disappointing way to lose the game. I am really proud of the effort of the players, they could not have put more into the game. It came down to a tiny margin.”
With their FA Cup journey still alive, Forest will now focus on the next round as they continue their push for a Champions League spot in the Premier League. The victory also adds to the club’s growing momentum, and they now have a real chance of reaching the semi-finals for the first time in decades.
