<\/p>\n
Nottingham Forest seized the advantage in their Europa League semi-final against Aston Villa as Chris Wood’s penalty sealed a 1-0 win in the first leg on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Wood netted from the spot in the second half after a needless handball by Villa defender Lucas Digne in the all-English clash at the City Ground.<\/p>\n
The New Zealand striker’s fifth goal of an injury-plagued season moved Forest within touching distance of their first European final since 1980.<\/p>\n
Vitor Pereira’s side are on a nine-match unbeaten run in all competitions, carrying them five points clear of the Premier League relegation zone and to the brink of the Europa showpiece.<\/p>\n
Forest will make the 50-mile trip to Villa Park for the second leg on May 7, with the winners facing Braga or Freiburg in the final in Istanbul on May 20.<\/p>\n
Braga won 2-1 in the other semi-final first leg on Thursday.<\/p>\n
“It’s nice to have the advantage but going to Villa Park will be a tough game. They’re good at their place,” Wood said.<\/p>\n
“It’s small moments that can potentially change games. Thankfully it went in our favour tonight.”<\/p>\n
Making it to Istanbul would be a dramatic finale to Forest’s soap-opera season, featuring four managers and a tense relegation battle.<\/p>\n
After the sacking of Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou and Sean Dyche, Pereira had led Forest to their first European semi-final since losing against Anderlecht in the 1983-84 UEFA Cup.<\/p>\n
Crowned European champions in 1979 and 1980 in their golden era under Brian Clough, Forest have been starved of success over the last three decades.<\/p>\n
Playing in Europe for the first time since 1995-96, Forest are chasing a first major trophy since the 1990 League Cup.<\/p>\n
They have not been in any major final since losing against Manchester United in the 1992 League Cup.<\/p>\n
Villa boss Unai Emery has a well-earned reputation as a Europa League specialist after winning the competition three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal, as well finishing as a runner-up with Arsenal.<\/p>\n
But Villa have been semi-final flops under Emery, losing in the last four against Olympiacos in the 2024 UEFA Conference League and Crystal Palace in the 2025 FA Cup.<\/p>\n
Villa remain on course to qualify for next season’s Champions League via a top-five finish in the Premier League.<\/p>\n
But crashing out against Forest would sting, given Villa have not won a major trophy since the 1996 League Cup, while their last major continental final was the iconic 1982 European Cup triumph against Bayern Munich.<\/p>\n
Villa threatened in the frantic early stages when Youri Tielemans’ long-range blast forced a good save from Stefan Ortega.<\/p>\n
They were quickly back on the attack as Ollie Watkins picked out Morgan Rogers for a curler that Ortega saved at full stretch.<\/p>\n
Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson escaped a red card for his ugly tackle on Watkins and the hosts gradually found their stride after the early Villa assault.<\/p>\n
Anderson’s deft chipped pass reached Morgan Gibbs-White and his cross found Igor Jesus for a close-range volley that Emiliano Martinez repelled with a brilliant one-handed stop.<\/p>\n
Watkins should have turned in Rogers’ shot early in the second half, but the striker miscued his effort straight at Ortega from five yards.<\/p>\n
There was little to separate the teams and when the opening goal arrived in the 71st minute it came with a helping hand from Digne.<\/p>\n
Omari Hutchinson chased an overhit cross and hooked it back in play just before the ball crossed the byline, with Digne foolishly sticking his arm up to block it.<\/p>\n
A VAR check confirmed the ball hadn’t gone out of play and Wood stepped up to lash the penalty past Martinez.<\/p>\n
The City Ground was rocking and Emery immediately hauled off the hapless Digne, sending on Jadon Sancho, Douglas Luiz and Ian Maatsen.<\/p>\n
But Forest held firm to secure a victory that took them to the verge of an historic achievement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n