Forest 1-2 Fenerbahçe: Aktürkoğlu's brace can't save them from elimination

  /  R47

The final score is Nottingham Forest 1-2 Fenerbahçe. A home defeat for Forest but Hudson-Odoi's goal is enough for them to qualify for the next round. 

Match Report:

Nottingham Forest survived a scare from Fenerbahce to book their Europa League last-16 place, winning 4-2 on aggregate despite a 2-1 defeat at the City ground in Thursday's second leg.

Vitor Pereira had the luxury of rotation for the knockout play-off tie, having already won 3-0 in Istanbul last week, but the difference in performances could not have been more vast.

Forest were the architects of their own difficulties too, and made a seemingly simple task monumentally harder.

They were first punished in the 22nd minute when Fenerbahce's ruthless break saw Kerem Akturkoglu sweep home to hand the visitors a lifeline.

It gave Fenerbahce real confidence, with Akturkoglu and Sidiki Cherif squandering glorious chances to level up the tie in the first half.

Fenerbahce's Archie Brown tries to calm the crowd as a flare was thrown on the pitch by the away supporters at Nottingham Forest

After 45 minutes with no shots on target, high turnovers and losing duels, Pereira made four half-time changes - something he called "difficult" after the game - bringing on Callum Hudson-Odoi, Igor Jesus, Ola Aina and Ibrahim Sangare.

But seconds into the second half, another clumsy moment handed Fenerbahce a penalty. Jair Cunha stuck a foot out to catch Akturkoglu and, after a VAR check, the on-field decision stood.

It was the forward who stepped up and easily slotted home his second of the evening to give the Turkish side real hope of levelling up on aggregate.

But Forest soon settled into their rhythm as the substitutes worked their magic, even if the approach of careful possession - as they have done so well in their two games under Pereira so far - did little to calm the nerves of the home fans.

And as the unhappy whistles began, Forest answered. It was two substitutes who combined as Aina's swinging cross found Hudson-Odoi over on the left of the area. He then sped past his defender before hammering home his first European goal of the season into the far corner.

The relief was palpable around the City Ground, and it took the remaining puff out of injury-hit Fenerbahce. Forest are now in the draw for Friday's last-16 draw, and will face either Real Betis or FC Midtjylland.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

8' Match Event for Nottingham Forest vs Fenerbahçe

22' GOAL! Nottingham Forest 0-1 Fenerbahçe (Kerem Aktürkoğlu)

25' Match Event for Nottingham Forest vs Fenerbahçe

45' Highlight from Nottingham Forest vs Fenerbahçe

47' Penalty Goal! Nottingham Forest 0-2 Fenerbahçe

68' GOAL! Nottingham Forest 1-2 Fenerbahçe (Callum Hudson-Odoi)

89' Highlight from Nottingham Forest vs Fenerbahçe

Line-ups

Nottingham Forest XI: Ortega, Elliot Anderson, Ryan Yates, Dominguez, Lorenzo Lucca, Neco Williams, Morato, McAtee, Omari Hutchinson, Jair Cunha, Murillo

Subs: Gunn, Aina, Sangare, Milenkovic, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Dan Ndoye, Dilane Bakwa, Igor Jesus, Zach Abbott, Keehan Willows

Fenerbahçe XI: Kante, Guendouzi, Kerem Aktürkoğlu, Tarık Çetin, Mert Müldür, Oğuz Aydın, İsmail Yüksek, Archie Brown, Dorgeles Nene, Sidiki Chérif, Yiğit Efe Demir

Subs: Semedo, Asensio, Levent Mercan, Engin Can Biterge, Hulusi̇ Efe Ceylan, Kamil Efe Üregen, Alaettin Ekici

Related: Nottingham Forest Fenerbahçe
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