Forest is one goal closer to the Europa League final

Until the 70th minute, it looked like Unai Emery was closer to another Europa League, a competition in which he is the true master. His Aston Villa looked like a better team and had better chances against the hosts, but an unnecessary handball of Lukas Digne changed all that. Thanks to his move, Nottingham Forest was awarded a penalty which Chris Wood converted and gave his team a 1-0 win in the first leg of the Europa League semifinal. Former Arsenal manager will not be pleased with this result, especially since his men were the better team throughtout the game, but a minimal defeat could be overturned at Villa Park in seven days. After all, the Villains are in the mix for the Champions League place next season, while Nottingham Forest are fighting for survival and the difference in quality must be enough for Emery to reach another final.

The first half was pretty much even from both teams. Not a lot opportunities and not even a lot of energy, especially from the hosts, who needed to take advantage of the home field advantage. Both clubs had one excellent opportunity each. It took 28 minutes of the game to see a first proper chance and it was Morgan Rogers who curled a shot to the bottom left corner but somehow the Forest stopper Ortega stretched an extra couple of inches to push the shot away from danger. And then came the Forest chance, which will be remembered for Emi Martinez’s brilliant save. It was 33rd minute when Elliot Anderson's wonderful ball over the top was moved into the box by Morgan Gibbs-White to Igor Jesus. The Brazilian took a shot but Martinez somehow managed to save it with two moves and prevent the lead.

Again we had to wait for almost 20 minutes to see another chance and it was Villa again. It was Morgan Rogers for the second time, only he was the assistant in this particular case. His ball reached Ollie Watkins, but Villa striker acted as he didn’t expect the shot and instinctively took a weak shot which went straight at Stefan Ortega. And then in the 68th minute the most important moment of this game happened. Omari Hutchinson hooked the ball in from the right and it hit Lucas Digne's hand before it went out of play. At first it looked like the ball was out, but VAR intervened and the replay indeed showed that the ball was not fully out of bounds. Therefore it was a penalty and the referee pointed to the spot and Chris Wood smashed into the top right corner for the lead. Everybody was expecting some sort of response from the guests, but nothing happened. Forest strengthened the defense and Villa couldn’t do much, except from trying not to conceive the second goal.

EUROPA LEAGUE - SEMI-FINALS

First leg

Thursday

Braga - Freiburg 2-1 (3.35)

/Tiknaz 8, Dorgeles 90+2 - Grifo 16/

Nott.Forest - Aston Villa 1-0 (0-0)

/Wood 71 (p)/