Nottingham Forest survived a scare from Fenerbahce to guide their Europa League last-16 place, successful 4-2 on mixture regardless of a 2-1 defeat on the Metropolis floor in Thursday’s second leg.
Vitor Pereira had the posh of rotation for the knockout play-off tie, having already received 3-0 in Istanbul final week, however the performances couldn’t have been extra huge.
Forest have been the architects of their very own difficulties too, and made a seemingly easy process monumentally tougher.
They have been first punished within the twenty second minute when Fenerbahce’s ruthless break noticed Kerem Akturkoglu sweep dwelling handy the guests a lifeline.
It gave Fenerbahce actual confidence, with Akturkoglu and Sidiki Cherif squandering superb possibilities to stage up the tie within the first half.
The sport was stopped mere seconds after kick-off after Fenerbahce followers threw flares onto the pitch
After 45 minutes with no photographs on the right track, excessive turnovers and shedding duels, Pereira made 4 half-time modifications, bringing on Callum Hudson-Odoi, Igor Jesus, Ola Aina and Ibrahim Sangare.
However seconds into the second half, one other clumsy second handed Fenerbahce a penalty. Jair Cunha caught a foot out to catch Akturkoglu, and after a VAR test, the on-field resolution stood.
Fenerbahce’s Kerem Akturkoglu scores his opener in opposition to Nottingham Forest
It was the ahead who stepped up and simply slotted dwelling his second of the night to provide the Turkish facet actual hope of levelling up on mixture.
However Forest quickly settled into their rhythm because the substitutes labored their magic, even when the method of cautious possession – as they’ve carried out so properly of their two video games below Pereira to date – did little to calm the nerves of the house followers.
Nottingham Forest’s Callum Hudson-Odoi scored on the Metropolis Floor on Thursday
And because the sad whistles started, Forest answered. It was two substitutes who mixed as Aina’s swinging cross discovered Hudson-Odoi over on the left of the world. He then sped previous his defender earlier than hammering dwelling into the far nook.
The reduction was palpable across the Metropolis Floor, and it took the remaining puff out of injury-hit Fenerbahce. Forest at the moment are within the draw for Friday’s last-16 draw, and can face both Actual Betis or FC Midtjylland.
When are fixtures scheduled for?
Spherical of 16 draw: 27 February, 12pm
Spherical of 16: 12 & 19 March 2026
Quarter-finals: 9 & 16 April 2026
Semi-finals: 30 April & 7 Might 2026
Remaining: 20 Might 2026 (Istanbul)
What’s coming up for Forest?
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