Sels the hero as Forest edge out Ipswich on penalties – FA Cup

FA Cup

Fifth Round

Nottingham Forest 1-1 Ipswich Town AET (Forest win 5-4 on penalties)

Nottingham Forest will meet Brighton in the FA Cup quarter-final as Matz Sels’ sudden death save earned them a spot in the last eight at Ipswich’s expense.

With neither side able to be separated after the scoreline at 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra-time, there were nine perfect penalties in the shootout before Jack Taylor stepped up.

The Ipswich midfielder could only find Sels’ body to send the City Ground into raptures – with Nuno Espirito Santo rushing onto the pitch as part of wild celebrations.

“It was the only penalty where I was in the right corner,” said Sels to ITV Sport after full-time. “It was penalties and one of the two goalkeepers was going to be the hero. It fell for me, so I am happy.”

The result means Forest will meet Brighton at the Amex Stadium for the last eight clash on the weekend of March 29/30. The most recent fixture between the two resulted in a 7-0 win for Forest.

The cup tie was a slow burner after a frantic FA Cup fifth round weekend. Forest named attacking hotshots Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White on the bench and ended the first half without a shot on target.

Ipswich rested Liam Delap among other important players but his replacement George Hirst gave the Tractor Boys the lead early in the second half, heading home at the far post after Forest fell asleep at a corner.

But after Nuno Espirito Santo brought on Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson, Forest found their leveller when Ryan Yates headed in from close after a superb delivery from the excellent Anthony Elanga.

Both sides threatened to win the cup tie in normal time as Murillo stung Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer’s gloves with a rasping long-range drive, before Callum Hudson-Odoi rattled the top of the crossbar after a short corner routine.

Yates was also denied a second Forest goal but the offside flag, with semi-automated offsides not needed to validate the clear decision.

At the other end, Hirst headed over from close range immediately after Forest’s leveller before Jack Clarke spurned a good chance to win it by firing wide at the near post – but neither side could be separated after 90 minutes.

Extra-time passed with Sam Morsy firing wide early on, while Forest substitute Jota Silva dragged the last meaningful effort of the game wide of goal. That left penalties and Sels’ moment of magic.

It was the second round in a row where Forest have required penalties, having overcome Exeter City from 12 yards in the last round, but Nuno’s special season carries on – and they are one step away from Wembley.