Midtjylland 1-2 Nottingham Forest (UEFA Europa League Round of 16 Second Leg) *0-3 pens aet

A brilliant night in Denmark ended with Nottingham Forest booking their place in the Quarter Finals of the Europa League on their first attempt since they last entered the equivalent competition all of 29 years ago, where they were eventually stopped by would be winners Bayern Munich in the 1997 UEFA Cup.

A goal down to Midtjylland from the first leg of this round of sixteen game, Vitor Pereira made several changes to his line-up with one eye on league matters and Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

His new look Forest side however would produce one of their best performances of the season as they dominated their Danish nemesis, despite having much of the ball and totting up the attempts in both previous games played against Midtjylland they had been twice beaten by the Wolves, it was not to happen a third time.

After Ryan Yates hit the bar with a volley and Morato had a shot cleared off the line, Lorenzo Lucca should have put Forest in the lead as he blazed over but eventually the opening goal would come on 40 minutes and it was Nico Dominguez who nodded home after Nikola Milenkovic headed a Bakwa cross into the Argentine midfielders path.

Forest dominated their opponents so much that Midtjylland ended the first half with a 0.01XG and their incensed Manager Mike Tullberg made two changes at the break, but shortly into the second half Ryan Yates would blast home from twenty yards and give Forest for the first time in the tie, huge advantage and overall lead.

No sooner had the Reds fans settled down from celebrating however would Erlic pull a goal back, that sent the game to extra time and although Forest thought they won it with a late Ryan Yates header, his match winning moment was chalked off by VAR for offside and it was penalties the deciding factor on the night, Morgan Gibbs-White scoring his, before Cho hit a post. Sangare stretching the Reds advantage with a calmly taken spot kick, Simsir stepping up hit the same post as Midtjylland’s first failed attempt, that gave Neco Williams the chance to give Forest further edge, he dually obliged to convert number three, before Edward Chilufya stepped up, he slipped on his run and kicked the ball into orbit, Forest convincing on the night, even more convincing in the shootout.

A brilliant night for the football club, the fans in loud voice took their singing to the streets of Herning and some spirited performances admired those watching, non the least from skipper Ryan Yates and the other Academy starlet Zach Abbott who both, were brilliant for 120 plus minutes.

Next up the Reds travel to Spurs in the league in a huge relegation battle at the Lane, but reward for success in Europe, is a mouth watering tie against Porto, who Forest beat earlier in the group stages remember, when managed seemingly a very long time ago, by Sean Dyche.

Forest: Sels, Abbott, Milenkovic (Murillo 61), Morato, Ndoye (Williams 61), Yates, Dominguez (Sangare 91), Bakwa (Aina 75), Hutchinson (Gibbs-White 61), McAtee (Anderson 75), Lucca.

*Article provided by Daniel Peacock (Editor).

*Main image @NFFC Ryan Yates celebrates after a brilliant nights work.