Nottingham Forest produced a determined display to end FC Midtjylland’s impressive six-game unbeaten run at home in Europe, securing a 2-1 victory in regulation time before sealing qualification for the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals via a penalty shootout.
With a crucial Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur looming, head coach Vítor Pereira rotated heavily, making eight changes to his lineup.
Despite that, Forest showed early intent, as Dilane Bakwa fired just over from range in the opening stages.
Bakwa remained central to Forest’s attacking threat and nearly forced an own goal when his corner caused panic, but goalkeeper Elias Olafsson reacted quickly to keep the ball out.
The visitors continued to press, with Bakwa again going close before the break, while Lorenzo Lucca missed a chance of his own after a knockdown from Nikola Milenkovic.
Forest’s pressure eventually paid off late in the first half when Milenkovic helped keep a deep ball alive, allowing Nicolás Domínguez to head home and level the tie on aggregate.
The English side carried that momentum into the second half and took the lead in the tie through Ryan Yates, who unleashed a stunning long-range strike to make it 2-1 on the night.
Midtjylland, led by manager Mike Tullberg, responded midway through the half when Martin Erlic pounced on a loose ball and fired a superb volley into the top corner to restore parity.
Both sides pushed for a winner in normal time, with Cho Gue-sung and Elliot Anderson going close, but neither could find the decisive goal.
Extra time brought further drama, as Lucca had an early effort ruled out for offside after being set up by Ola Aina. Yates also thought he had won it late on, only for his header to be disallowed for offside.
With nothing separating the sides after 210 minutes, the contest was settled by penalties.
Midtjylland faltered from the spot, missing their first three kicks through Cho, Aral Simsir, and Edward Chilufya, while Forest converted all their attempts to book a place in a European quarter-final for the first time in three decades.
