Nottingham Forest defeated 10-man Porto 1-0 at the City Ground on Thursday, advancing 2-1 on aggregate to the Europa League semi-finals against Aston Villa. Morgan Gibbs-White scored the winner with a deflected effort after Jan Bednarek's early red card. The victory came amid emotional tributes to absent midfielder Elliott Anderson, whose mother passed away earlier that day.
Nottingham Forest hosted Porto in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final, following a 1-1 first-leg draw in Portugal where Martim Fernandes scored an own goal for the visitors. The match carried extra weight with Forest missing midfielder Elliott Anderson after the death of his mother, Helen. Fans at the City Ground sang Anderson's name throughout the game, and Gibbs-White later paid tribute by lifting a jersey reading 'Family first, we are all with you' after his goal. Eight minutes in, Jan Bednarek was sent off following a VAR review for a high challenge on Chris Wood, who was forced off injured. Four minutes later, Gibbs-White surged forward and fired a shot that deflected off Pablo Rosario past Diogo Costa, giving Forest the lead. Forest created further chances before half-time through Omari Hutchinson, Murillo, and Nicolas Dominguez, while Igor Jesus was denied by Costa after the break. Porto threatened more in the second half, with William Gomes hitting the crossbar and Alan Varela doing the same from distance, but they could not equalize. Murillo and Callum Hudson-Odoi suffered injuries, raising concerns ahead of Sunday's Premier League match against Burnley. The result ends Forest's 42-year wait for a European semi-final since the 1983-84 UEFA Cup, putting the relegation-threatened side three wins from the trophy and Champions League qualification.
