Forest Triumphs Over Brighton in Penalty Shootout to Secure FA Cup Semi-Final Berth After 34-Year Wait

Nottingham Forest triumphed over Brighton & Hove Albion in a penalty shootout, winning 4-3 after a goalless draw, and secured their spot in the FA Cup semi-finals, extending their unbeaten streak to five matches (W3, D2).

Forest entered the match with a string of victories under their belt, and Nuno Espirito Santo’s team began strongly, pushing for an early advantage.

They nearly found the net within the first 16 minutes when Taiwo Awoniyi had a chance inside the box, but Bart Verbruggen made an excellent save to deny him.

As the first half progressed, both sides struggled to assert their dominance over the game.

Brighton registered their first effort on target in the 31st minute when Pervis Estupinan unleashed a long-range strike that nearly caught Matz Sels off guard, but the Belgian goalkeeper managed to push the rebound away.

The Seagulls built momentum from there and nearly took the lead just before half-time when Carlos Baleba found space at the edge of the area, but his left-footed volley narrowly missed the right post.

Forest responded three minutes into the second half with Morgan Gibbs-White testing Verbruggen with a strike from outside the box, which the keeper tipped over the bar.

In a match full of chances, the hosts had another opportunity when Jack Hinshelwood connected with a corner, but his header went off-target, resulting in a goal kick.

With the scoreline still level after 90 minutes, the match proceeded to extra time.

Brighton almost broke the deadlock early in the second period of extra time, as Diego Gómez directed a header from Brajan Gruda’s cross towards goal, but Sels delivered a brilliant save to keep the scores level.

With just two minutes remaining, Brighton thought they had snatched the victory when Joao Pedro set up Gómez to score, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside.

The match concluded without a goal, necessitating a penalty shootout, where Ryan Yates stepped up to convert the decisive penalty after Sels’ two crucial saves, clinching the victory for Forest and securing their first major semi-final appearance in 34 years, making it three successful penalty shootouts in this FA Cup campaign.