Wood’s Penalty Sends Forest to Europa League Semifinal Lead

Nottingham Forest took a giant step towards a historic Europa League final appearance, beating Aston Villa 1-0 in the first leg of their all-English semifinal clash. Chris Wood’s 71st-minute penalty, awarded after Lucas Digne’s handball, was the decisive moment in the game. The New Zealand striker’s powerful shot gave Emiliano Martínez no chance, securing a crucial win for Forest.

The victory extends Forest’s unbeaten run to nine games, but they still face a tough task at Villa Park next Thursday. A Europa League win would guarantee Forest a Champions League spot, a remarkable achievement for a team fighting relegation in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Braga edged Freiburg 2-1, with Mario Dorgeles scoring a late winner, and Crystal Palace beat Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1 in the Conference League semifinal. The Europa League final is set for May 20 in Istanbul, while the Conference League final takes place on May 27 in Leipzig .