Nottingham Forest 2-0 Porto - Pair of penalties sees the Dragons suffer their first defeat in the Europa League | OneFootball

Porto’s 11 match unbeaten streak under Francisco Fariolo came to an end at the City Ground where the Dragons suffered a 2-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest in the UEFA Europa League.

The opening goal came in the 19th minute after an unlucky incident saw the ball strike Jan Bednarek’s arm. A penalty was awarded and Morgan Gibbs-White sent Diogo Costa the wrong way.

Porto enjoyed a brief spell of pressure after the break and Bednarek thought he had equalised before a VAR intervention spotted Samu offside.

Bednarek was involved again when he made a crucial block to deny Hudson-Odoi but the second goal came in the 77th minute following another penalty. Martim Fernandes brought down Nicolo Savona and Igor Jesus and sent the ball down the middle.

Rodrigo Mora came off the bench late on but it was too little too late, Fariolo and his side immediately turning their attention to the Primeira Liga and a tricky trip to Moreirense on Monday.

Nottingham Forest 2-0 Porto

It was a cagey start at the City Ground before the hosts got on top, Callum Hudson-Odoi’s shot tipped wide by Diogo Costa before another effort from the winger was deflected over the bar by Alan Varela.

Forest took the lead in the 19th minute following a Douglas Luiz cross into the box that bounced off the shoulder of Igor Jesus and into Jan Bednarek’s forearm. Referee Radu Marian Petrescu awarded a penalty that was confirmed by the VAR, Morgan Gibbs-White stepping up and sending Costa the wrong way.

Varela’s long range strike was tipped wide by Matz Sels and Pablo Rosario saw a difficult attempt go wide, but Porto were struggling to create clear cut opportunities.

Oleksandr Zinchenko picked up an injury before the break and was replaced by Nicolo Savona.

Porto had a strong start to the second half and thought they had equalised six minutes after the restart. Bednarek fired through traffic and celebrated in front of the Dragons’ supporters, the goal eventually ruled out by the VAR who spotted Samu narrowly offside.

Francesco Farioli brought on Martim Fernandes, Gabri Veiga and William Gomes for Francisco Moura, Alan Varela and Borja Sainz.

The visitors stayed on the front foot but were fortunate not to go 2-0 down when Elliot Anderson released Hudson-Odoi who looked certain to score, Bednarek making a crucial block to keep the visitors in the contest.

The second goal eventually came however and it would come from another penalty after Fernandes foolishly brought down Savona. Savona was initially booked for diving before Marian Petrescu was summoned to the touchline monitor, the referee watching replays before pointing to the spot where Jesus and sent the ball straight down the middle.

The two coaching teams were going at it in the dugouts with tempers boiling over, Rodrigo Mora replacing Pepê and Ryan Yates coming on for Douglas Luiz. Forest comfortably closed it out in their first game under new manager Sean Dyche, Ibrahim Sangare replacing Elliot Anderson who came off to a standing ovation.

Line Ups

Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Matz Sels; Neco Williams, Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, Oleksandr Zinchenko (Nicolo Savona 45’); Douglas Luiz (Ryan Yates 85’), Elliot Anderson (Ibrahim Sangare 93’); Dan Ndoye, Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi; Igor Jesus

Porto (4-3-3): Diogo Costa; Alberto Costa (Zaidu Sanusi 76’), Jan Bednarek, Jakub Kiwior, Francisco Moura (Martim Fernandes 58’); Viktor Froholdt, Alan Varela (Gabri Veiga 58’), Pablo Rosario; Pepê (Rodrigo Mora 84’), Samu Aghehowa; Borja Sainz (William Gomes 58’)