Forest defeat Ipswich on penalties to progress in cup

Nottingham Forest beat Ipswich Town 5-4 on penalties to set up a quarter-final tie against Brighton & Hove Albion after a 1-1 draw in a gruelling 120 minutes at The City Ground.

Matz Sels saved Ipswich’s fifth penalty with the previous nine all finished with aplomb, leading to rapturous celebrations among the Forest faithful.

The visitors took the lead in NG2 through George Hirst’s header early in the second period, but Ryan Yates header with 20 minutes remaining took the tie to extra time and ultimately penalties.

On six minutes, The City Ground rose as one to applaud the memory of Sam Perkins, who sadly passed away in early February following a courageous battle with Motor Neurone’s Disease.

The Reds went close to opening the scoring on eight minutes when Ibrahim Sangaré met Anthony Elanga’s outswinging corner; Forest’s no. 6 could only place his effort just wide of Alex Palmer’s right-hand post.

Nuno’s side had plenty of play in the final third without testing Palmer in the Ipswich goal; Forest had eight efforts on goal in the opening 45 minutes compared to the visitors’ two.

But there was nothing to separate the sides as the whistle signalled half-time in NG2.

Half-time: Forest 0-0 Ipswich

Forest made the faster start in the second period when Elanga was denied from the edge of the box by Palmer following a barnstorming run from Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Ipswich’s best moment of the match so far came three minutes later when Sam Morsy’s drive from 25 yards was tipped over the bar by Sels. But from the resulting corner, the visitors would take the lead.

Hirst managed to get free at the back post to head the ball into the Forest net.

Forest kept their game up and their reward came with around 20 minutes remaining, and it was a captain’s goal at The City Ground.

Elanga’s delivery at the second time of asking was perfectly placed for Yates to head the ball beyond Palmer and roof at The City Ground. Forest were level.

Ipswich almost responded immediately when Hirst headed over, but the Reds roared back with quick successive chances through first Taiwo Awoniyi when his clever flick as blocked, before Elliot Anderson drove the follow-up just wide of goal.

Yates almost had his second when he headed the ball into the net for the second time on the night, only for the offside flag to rule out the goal and keep the scoreline level.

As the game entered its final 10 minutes Murillo unleashed a fierce effort on goal which had Palmer at full stretch to tip the ball over the bar.

From the resulting corner, Forest were within inches of the lead when Hudson-Odoi’s curling effort clipped the angle of post and crossbar on its way over.

Neither side could find a winner in the 90 minutes and extra time beckoned on The City Ground.

Full-time: Forest 1-1 Ipswich

Forest had the better of the first period of extra time with Hudson-Odoi, Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White all going close, but the scoreline remained 1-1 after 105 minutes.

Second half in extra time substitute Jota poked the ball wide with the final chance of the 120 minutes.

Full-time after extra time: Forest 1-1 Ipswich

After nine brilliantly taken penalties from both sides, Sels won the battle of wits with Jack Taylor, parrying the 10th spot kick away to send Forest through to the quarter finals of the competition.

The Reds will face Brighton at the Amex Stadium later this month.