Chris Wood stepped up to the spot and converted a penalty that gave Nottingham Forest a 1‑0 lead over Aston Villa in the first leg of their Europa League semi‑final, a match that was punctuated by a dramatic VAR intervention at the City Ground. The controversy began when Lucas Digne was judged to have handled the ball inside his own penalty area. Initially the referee pointed to a goal‑kick for Villa, but the video assistant referee reviewed the incident and determined that the ball was still in play when Omari Hutchinson struck it against Digne’s outstretched arm. The replay showed a clear hand‑ball, prompting the officials to overturn the original decision and award a penalty.
Wood’s attempt was powerful and precise, leaving Aston Villa keeper Emiliano Martínez with little chance. Martínez had already produced a spectacular save earlier in the first half, denying Igor Jesús with a fingertip block and then clutching the ball before it crossed the line. However, Wood’s strike was too strong and accurate, sending the ball into the net and giving Forest a slender advantage.
The line‑up for Nottingham Forest featured Ortega, Aina, Milenković, Morato, Williams, Domínguez, Anderson, Gibbs‑White, Hutchinson, Jesús and Wood, with substitutes Abbott and Yates on the bench. Aston Villa fielded Martínez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Tielemans, Onana, McGinn, Buendía, Rogers and Watkins, with Bogarde, Douglas Luiz, Maatsen and Sancho available as replacements.
Neco Williams was named player of the match for his energetic display on the flank. Despite the setback, Villa had moments of promise. Ollie Watkins saw a clear chance that was denied by Stefan Ortega at point‑blank range, leaving the visitors to wonder if they had done enough to stay in the tie.
Manager Unai Emery, who has guided his side to multiple Europa League finals, was content with his team’s ability to control the tempo for large portions of the game, even after Forest took the lead. Emery will be hoping that the atmosphere at Villa Park, a venue where Forest have historically struggled, will be more favorable when the second leg arrives.
The banner displayed in the Trent End before kickoff celebrated Forest’s back‑to‑back European triumphs in 1979 and 1980, and supporters are dreaming of a third continental trophy. In the other semi‑final, Braga secured a 2‑1 victory over Freiburg in Portugal, setting up a final that will be contested in Istanbul on 20 May. Nottingham Forest head coach Vítor Pereira spoke to TNT Sports after the match, praising his squad’s resilience: “It was a very tough team, but I think we competed with them. Eyes on us, like I like to see, playing football, trying to score.
It was a good game. We have enough time now to recover a bit, prepare for the game against Chelsea.
This is a special group of players.” He added, “I have the honour, the privilege, to be the manager of these boys. They are a fantastic group.
Spirit, facing four managers in a season and finishing at this level, competing at this level, together with the spirit of the team. It's wonderful.” Forest’s bench saw Morato and Nicolás Domínguez come on for the injured Jair Cunha and Ibrahim Sangaré, while Aston Villa introduced Amadou Onana for Lamare Bogarde. Emery’s post‑match press conference focused heavily on a challenge by Elliot Anderson on Watkins that he claimed was “close to breaking his ankle.” The referee did not award a foul for the incident, and Emery expressed frustration that VAR did not intervene despite the clear replays.
“I watched the action of Anderson with Watkins. The referee did a fantastic job, but after watching the VAR it is a huge mistake.
Because Ollie Watkins was close to breaking his ankle. VAR’s responsibility is to correct such clear errors,” the Villa boss said, emphasizing his belief that VAR should be applied consistently and fairly.
The week has been marked by several contentious penalty decisions across European competitions, and Digne’s hand‑ball will likely be remembered as a costly error that could jeopardise Villa’s chances of lifting the trophy. While the officials’ initial decision to award a goal‑kick was understandable given the ball’s proximity to the touchline, the subsequent hand‑ball was unmistakable, and the penalty was a justified correction. Emery’s record in Europa League semi‑finals also took a hit. He had previously gone unbeaten across eight straight semi‑final encounters, a streak that ended with this loss—the first time since his Sevilla side fell 3‑1 to Valencia in May 2014.
Looking ahead, Villa will face their relegation rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday, with a 7 p.m. kickoff. Forest, meanwhile, travel to Chelsea on Monday for a league clash that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports at 3 p.m.
Both teams will be eager to maintain momentum as they balance domestic responsibilities with the looming second leg of their European semi‑final. Fans can also try their luck in the Super 6 competition, where a free entry offers a chance to win £250,000.