Chris Wood stepped up to the spot and calmly slotted home 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 heavily influenced by a dramatic VAR intervention at the City Ground. The incident began when Lucas Digne appeared to handle the ball inside his own penalty area. Initially, the referee pointed to a goal‑kick for Villa, but the video assistant referee (VAR) reviewed the play and determined that the ball was still in active play when Omari Hutchinson struck it against Digne's outstretched arm.
The review overturned the original decision and awarded a penalty to Forest. Wood's conversion was powerful and well‑placed, leaving Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez with little chance.
Martinez had previously impressed with a spectacular save in the first half, denying Igor Jesus with a fingertip deflection before catching the ball just before it crossed the line. However, Wood's strike proved too much for him, restoring Forest's advantage. The line‑up for Nottingham Forest featured Ortega (7), Aina (7), Milenkovic (7), Morato (6), Williams (8), Domínguez (6), Anderson (8), Gibbs‑White (7), Hutchinson (7), Jesus (7) and Wood (7).
The substitutes used were Abbott (6) and Yates (n/a). Aston Villa fielded Martinez (7), Cash (6), Konsa (6), Torres (6), Digne (5), Tielemans (7), Onana (6), McGinn (6), Buendía (5), Rogers (6) and Watkins (6), with Bogarde, Douglas Luiz, Maatsen and Sancho coming off the bench. Neco Williams was named player of the match for his energetic display on the flank. Villa will be left questioning whether they did enough, especially after Ollie Watkins saw a clear chance saved by Stefan Ortega at point‑blank range.
Unai Emery, who has a reputation for navigating Europa League ties successfully, expressed satisfaction with his side's ability to control the tempo for much of the game, even after conceding the goal. Looking ahead, Emery hopes that the atmosphere at Villa Park – a venue where Forest have traditionally struggled – will be more favorable for his team in the return leg.
The Trent End banner, displayed before kickoff, celebrated Forest's historic European triumphs in 1979 and 1980, reminding fans of the club's ambition to secure a third continental trophy. In the other semi‑final on Thursday, Braga secured a 2-1 first‑leg win over Freiburg in Portugal, setting up a final showdown in Istanbul on May 20.
Nottingham Forest manager Vitor Pereira spoke to TNT Sports after the match, saying: "It was a very tough opponent, but we competed well. We kept our eyes on the prize, played attacking football and created chances. It was a good game.
We now have a short break to recover and prepare for the upcoming league match against Chelsea. This group of players is special." He added, "I am honoured to manage these boys.
They have shown great spirit, especially after going through four managers this season and still reaching this level. Their determination is wonderful." Injury updates saw Morato and Nicolas Domínguez come on for the injured Jair Cunha and Ibrahim Sangare for Forest, while Amadou Onana replaced Lamare Bogarde in Villa's starting eleven.
Emery's post‑match press conference focused heavily on a dangerous challenge by Elliot Anderson on Ollie Watkins, which he described as "close to breaking his ankle." The referee did not award a foul for the incident, and while Emery did not blame the Portuguese official directly, he criticised VAR for not intervening after reviewing the footage. "I watched the replay and it was a huge mistake," Emery said. "The referee did a fantastic job overall, but that challenge was crystal clear.
VAR should have stepped in." Emery continued, emphasizing his belief in VAR when used correctly: "I am 100 per cent for VAR, but it must be applied fairly. When an action is as obvious as this, there is no doubt.
The player could have been seriously injured, and the technology exists to prevent such incidents." The week has seen several contentious penalty decisions across European competitions, but few have been as pivotal as the handball call on Digne. His error not only gifted Forest the lead but could ultimately decide the outcome of the tie and the chance of lifting the trophy. Initially, the officials' decision to award a goal‑kick made sense, given how close the ball was to going out of play. However, Digne's decision to raise his arms and unintentionally block Hutchinson's strike was a clear violation, resulting in a justified penalty.
For Emery, this marks the first time he has been eliminated from a Europa League semi‑final since his Sevilla side fell 3‑1 to Valencia in May 2014, ending an impressive run of eight consecutive semi‑final victories in the competition. Looking ahead to the second leg at Villa Park next Thursday, both clubs have additional league fixtures. Villa will travel to face their relegation rivals Tottenham on Sunday at 7 p.m., while Forest will head to Chelsea on Monday at 3 p.m., with the latter match broadcast live on Sky Sports. Fans can also take part in the Super 6 competition for a chance to win £250,000, with free entry available through the official Sky Sports platform.
Overall, the first leg delivered drama, controversy and a crucial advantage for Nottingham Forest, setting the stage for a tense and potentially decisive return fixture in what promises to be a memorable Europa League semi‑final showdown.