Ryan Yates inspires Nottingham Forest into Europa League quarter-finals after Midtjylland epic | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest reached the Europa League quarter-finals with a 2-1 win on the night and 3-0 on penalties at FC Midtjylland, a comeback embodied by captain Ryan Yates’ defiant salute to a jubilant away end.

Trailing from the first leg, Forest turned the tie to set up Porto in the last eight. Nottingham Post notes that songs about Istanbul and another trip to Türkiye rang out as Yates reappeared to acknowledge the 600 travelling fans.

Forest flew out of the blocks, dominated the first half and created enough to have settled it by the interval. Head coach Vitor Pereira felt Midtjylland’s celebrations at the City Ground were premature and told his players simply to enjoy it, despite making nine changes and choosing not to risk his big-hitters.

Nicolas Dominguez’s header ended a 235-minute drought, then Yates whipped in a left-foot strike from the edge of the D. He had earlier hit the bar and saw a late extra-time effort ruled out by VAR.

Pereira’s reshaped XI excelled, and introductions of key men later shifted the rhythm, not always positively. Booming music spilled from the dressing room during post-match interviews, and it came 30 years to the day since Forest’s previous European quarter-final, ended by Bayern Munich.

Forest will still need everyone as they juggle Europe with a survival fight, with Tottenham Hotspur away next. The last time they advanced after trailing in a two-leg European tie, against BFC Dynamo in 1979/80, they went all the way.

Source: Nottingham Post