Nottingham Forest secured a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals following a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Ipswich Town. Goalkeeper Matz Sels played a crucial role, denying Jack Taylor’s spot-kick as the hosts triumphed 5-4 on penalties. Ryan Yates had earlier equalized after George Hirst gave Ipswich the lead, pushing the match into extra time.
England manager Thomas Tuchel, who was in attendance ahead of his first squad selection for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia, witnessed a largely uneventful contest that only gained momentum in the second half.
Taylor’s unsuccessful penalty proved decisive, marking a repeat of his miss in Ipswich’s Carabao Cup defeat against League Two side AFC Wimbledon in August. Meanwhile, Forest continued their fine form, having also eliminated Exeter City in the fourth round via penalties.
Their focus now shifts back to the Premier League, where they are in contention for a Champions League spot. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, currently third in the table, faces a crucial fixture against Manchester City on Saturday, with the defending champions trailing them by just a point.
“Every FA Cup draw, we make sure to practice penalties,” said Nuno. “We used the same order as we did against Exeter. The players executed them well – it’s all part of preparation and dedication.”
The Portuguese manager admitted the shootout was a tense experience. “It’s not enjoyable to watch at all – there’s anxiety, nerves, and mixed emotions. I try to avoid looking and just listen for the reaction.”
Forest stay composed as Ipswich’s Cup hopes end
Ipswich entered the contest hoping to build on their 1978 FA Cup triumph despite their struggles in the league. They took the lead early in the second half when Sels tipped a Sam Morsy strike over the bar, leading to a corner from Ben Johnson. From the delivery, Hirst headed home his third goal of the season, with Scotland manager Steve Clarke watching as the forward remains eligible for the national team through his grandfather.
However, Ipswich’s advantage lasted just 15 minutes. Yates connected with a pinpoint cross from Anthony Elanga, heading in the equalizer. The Forest captain, who has expressed ambitions of an England call-up, had another goal disallowed for offside as his team pressed forward.
Callum Hudson-Odoi struck the crossbar, but neither side could break the deadlock in extra time, leading to a penalty shootout where Sels emerged as the hero.
Penalty perfection seals Forest’s progress
Forest delivered a flawless display from the penalty spot for the second consecutive FA Cup round. Having defeated Exeter 4-2 in similar fashion, they maintained their composure at the City Ground, converting all five penalties with precision.
Belgium international Sels once again played a pivotal role, having previously denied Reece Cole in the shootout against Exeter. Alex Palmer, Ipswich’s goalkeeper, was unable to stop any of Forest’s efforts, as Chris Wood, Morgan Gibbs-White, Elliot Anderson, Neco Williams, and Hudson-Odoi all dispatched their penalties clinically.
Following his successful penalty, Gibbs-White ran to embrace Sels in a show of team unity, reflecting the spirit that has defined Forest’s season. The home crowd played its part, rallying behind their team to push them over the line despite an unconvincing display in open play.
For Ipswich, the defeat extended their poor record at the City Ground, where they have not won since 1999. The loss also continued their unfortunate streak of being eliminated in their last 14 FA Cup meetings with top-flight opposition, a run stretching back to their victory over Blackburn Rovers in the 1995-96 campaign.
Manager Kieran McKenna confirmed that defenders Axel Tuanzebe and Cameron Burgess sustained injuries, making them doubtful for Ipswich’s upcoming league fixture against Crystal Palace. Despite the setback, McKenna remained optimistic.
“It was a high-quality shootout,” he said. “The players can take confidence from how they competed and belief in our squad’s direction. The challenge now is recovery – physically and mentally – for Saturday’s game.”
“It’s a tough way to go out, but penalty shootouts always leave one team on the wrong side of a cruel outcome.”
