Nottm Forest Vs Fenerbahçe: Nervy Forest reach Europa League last 16 after 1-2 loss
In a tense Europa League playoff second leg, nottm forest vs fenerbahçe finished 1-2 on the night but 4-2 on aggregate, sending Nottingham Forest into the competition's last 16. The tie combined dramatic football — Kerem Akturkoglu's double and Callum Hudson-Odoi's late strike — with significant crowd disruptions that led to three arrests and a police appeal for information.
Nottm Forest Vs Fenerbahçe: Crowd disruption and arrests
The match at the City Ground was interrupted by fan incidents from the away end. Officers made three arrests after a series of events that included small flares being lit and thrown from sections of an estimated 1, 500-strong away end, which stopped the game in the first half and forced a delay of several minutes while flares were removed from the pitch. A 37-year-old man was arrested after a flare was reportedly thrown by Fenerbahçe fans towards the home end. A 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a steward, and a 38-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of going onto the playing area at a designated football match. A section of seating in the away end was discovered to have been damaged after fans left the area.
Supt Louise Clarke said: "We're currently investigating a series of reports from last night's match and are working closely with both clubs as part of this. This includes multiple reports of lit flares being thrown onto the pitch and at rival supporters. I can confirm one suspect has been arrested in connection with this, while two other people have been arrested on suspicion of separate offences too. Separate investigations are ongoing into each of these incidents, as well as wider reports of pyrotechnic use and criminal damage within the ground last night. As part of this, we will be analysing all available footage to help identify anyone who could have been involved. " Nottinghamshire Police has appealed for information in relation to the incidents.
Hudson-Odoi's decisive strike and Forest's path to the last 16
Callum Hudson-Odoi, one of the half-time substitutes, scored a low finish in the 68th minute — described in other reporting as 22 minutes from the end — that restored Forest's aggregate lead and effectively killed Fenerbahçe's comeback. The strike was Hudson-Odoi's sixth goal of the season and ensured Forest progressed 4-2 on aggregate despite losing the night 1-2. Forest will face either FC Midtjylland or Real Betis in the last 16; FC Midtjylland beat Forest in October and that result was cited as having sparked Ange Postecoglou's downfall, while Forest drew 2-2 with Real Betis in Spain during the league phase.
Akturkoglu's double, penalty and the moments that turned the tie
Kerem Akturkoglu scored twice for Fenerbahçe, putting the hosts in danger of overturning Forest's 3-0 cushion from the first leg in Istanbul. Forest were caught on the break in the 22nd minute when Sidiki Cherif broke down the right and picked out a pass to Akturkoglu, who composed himself and slammed home. Jair Cunha conceded a penalty just 25 seconds after the restart by tripping Akturkoglu; the striker converted the spot-kick to make it 2-0 on the night and raise the anxiety levels at the City Ground.
Pereira's rotation and halftime changes as strategy and risk
Manager Vitor Pereira made six changes to his starting lineup after Sunday's 1-0 defeat to Liverpool, and he explained the rotation was taken with the next Premier League game at Brighton in mind. Pereira said: "We move forward - I'm happy, we played under pressure. It was like a thriller - with suspense. " He added: "We were suffering a bit but we are in the moment of the season where we need to think not about one game but about the next game. I decided to take this risk [of six changes] because I need to think about the Brighton game [on Sunday], it is very important for us. We need to go there with fuel and energy. My decisions were not just about this game. "
At half-time Pereira made four changes, withdrawing James McAtee and Ryan Yates and bringing on Igor Jesus, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ola Aina and Ibrahim Sangaré in an effort to wrestle back control.
Late chances, key passes and individual moments
Forest had some worrying moments and near-misses. Elliot Anderson went close when he shot wide early on. Oguz Aydin latched onto Omari Hutchinson's misplaced pass to tee up Akturkoglu, who dragged that chance wide; Cherif later had a chance but directed his shot straight at goalkeeper Stefan Ortega. Late in the game Omari Hutchinson ran clean through and could have made it 2-2 on the night but was denied by goalkeeper Tarik Cetin. The decisive combination saw Ola Aina's cross find Hudson-Odoi at the far post for his low shot into the bottom corner in the 68th minute.
Reactions from the Fenerbahçe coach and the closing picture
Fenerbahçe coach Domenico Tedesco said: "We are proud of the way we played, with personality and belief. At home, we lost the qualification, they changed the coach a few days before which changes things, they overperformed in our stadium, we underperformed. We have to accept we are out of the competition but at least with our heads up. " Despite the drama on and off the pitch, Forest progress to the Europa League last 16 and will await whether their next opponent is FC Midtjylland or Real Betis.
