ANOTHER Uefa semi-final, another contentious spot-kick decision, another VAR call that stunned one team and delighted the other.
After Paris and Madrid, this time Nottingham was the scene of a penalty that would never have been awarded back in the days when Brian Clough was in charge around here.
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Chris Wood opened the scoring from the penalty spot Credit: Getty
Wood’s spot-kick resulted in wild celebrations Credit: Getty
But Chris Wood did not care as he fired Forest to within 90 minutes of a Europa League Final appearance in Istanbul, to give the City Ground another glory night 42 years after the last one.
That Lucas Digne handled the ball as Omari Hutchinson hooked back into the box mid-way through the second half was not in doubt – the Frenchman had two arms raised above his head as he batted it away.
Hutchinson, though, appeared to have got there a fraction too late, with the flag raised for a goal-kick, before the Portuguese VAR eventually informed fellow countryman Joao Pinheiro that it had not completely gone over the dead-ball line.
Wood’s thumper into the top corner meant a night that was set to be dominated by talk of Emi Martinez’ first half wonder save from Igor Jesus and Elliot Anderson being lucky to avoid a rec card for a first half studs-up challenge that left Ollie Watkins writhing, ended with the Forest fans in dreamland.
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Unai Emery will still believe his men can turn things round at Villa Park next week and that a fifth Europa League crown could be coming his way.
But they will have to do it the hard way, as Vitor Pereira and his men in red showed guts and desire in abundance to take a precious if slender advantage, thanks to the 200th goal of Wood’s career.
They just about deserved it too, digging deep to find a way, with Anderson their dominant force.
Maybe, too, there was a bit of anger at seeing Villa wearing the traditional white and purple colours of Anderlecht, Forest’s conquerors in THAT corrupt 1984 semi-final, one of Uefa’s most scandalous outrages.
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John McGinn and Omari Hutchinson were in the thick of the action Credit: PA
Hutchinson’s attempted cross hit Lucas Digne’s outstretched arm Credit: PA
Forest won the first leg of that tie 2-0, before the fix played out in Brussels.
Initially there were few signs the home side could repeat that, with Villa the more controlled and confident, happy to hit on the counter.
Twice in the first half hour, Stefan Ortega was forced into flying action to keep his side on terms.
The first came inside nine minutes, when Youri Tielemans had time to take aim from 25-yards, with Ortega reaching up to his top corner to turn the drive behind.
Then, after a dreadful misplaced pass by Hutchinson allowed Watkins to surge goalwards and find Morgan Rogers, Ortega parried low to his right, with enough on the save to take it away from the lurking Emi Buendia.
Gradually, though, with Anderson imposing himself on the midfield battle, Forest gained parity, if not better.
Yet the England midfielder was beyond lucky that neither the Portuguese ref or his VAR in Nyon saw anything wrong as he nicked the ball but barrelled stud-first into Watkins’ ankle just inside his own half.
Somehow, especially given how officious Uefa refs are, it was cleared immediately. Do that in the World Cup and he will be off.
Referee Joao Pinheiro pointed to the spot following a VAR check Credit: Getty
Ollie Watkins could not find a leveller for Aston Villa Credit: Getty
Nevertheless, Anderson, mixing energy and vision either side of that escape, established a platform allowing Forest to get the ball to Hutchinson, who fancied himself against Digne, while Morgan Gibbs-White came off his left flank to scheme and threaten.
Half-chances followed, Gibbs-White crowded out at the back post, Chris Wood just outjumped at the other upright, Anderson firing over, before the stand-out moment, 12 minutes before the interval.
Anderson spread to Neco Williams wide on the left, and powered up for the return ball back into the middle.
Sensing the moment, he played a glorious clip to Gibbs-White, whose cross was caught flush on the volley by Igor Jesus eight yards out, only for Martinez to somehow claw the ball back from behind his dive. Astonishing and outstanding, the sort of save that often decides matches, reminiscent of David Seaman’s against Sheffield United in the 2003 FA Cup semi-final.
It still might be pivotal in the tie, if not on the night.
Watkins, backed up by Rogers, was still fruitlessly arguing his case that Anderson should have been dismissed at the start of the second period.
The England striker, though, could have had revenge in the best way on 57 minutes, when Rogers drove into the middle and he poked towards the net from close range.
Anywhere else other than straight at Ortega and it had to be a goal. Watkins knew it, too. Another key moment.
Then, with 22 minutes left, advantage Forest, after a VAR check that went on for ever as Digne waited with the look of a guilty man waiting for a jury to return its verdict.
Villa pushed without ever really looking scoring, Tieleman’s sending a late shot into Row Z befire Jadon Sancho fired weakly. This was Forest’s night.
