Overview
- Chris Wood converted a second-half penalty Thursday after a lengthy VAR check confirmed Lucas Digne handled Omari Hutchinson’s cross, sealing Forest’s 1-0 home win.
- A tense first half ended 0-0, with Emiliano Martínez denying Igor Jesus and Stefan Ortega stopping an Ollie Watkins effort to keep the tie level until the spot-kick.
- Forest started Stefan Ortega in goal with Chris Wood leading the line, while Villa paired Lamare Bogarde with Youri Tielemans in midfield after Amadou Onana was not fit to start.
- The teams meet again at Villa Park on May 7, with the winner advancing to the May 20 final in Istanbul to face Braga or Freiburg.
- This is Forest’s first European semi-final in 42 years, and Unai Emery’s track record in the Europa League underscores that the aggregate tie remains very much in play.