Nottingham Forest 0-1 Midtjylland RECAP - UEFA Europa League action as Gue-Sung Cho gives visitors shock first-leg advantage

Europa League / Last 16

City Ground / 12.03.2026

Nottingham Forest

Finished

FC Midtjylland

G. Cho(80')

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Highlights

22:33

HIGHLIGHTS: WASTEFUL FOREST PAY PRICE AS MIDTJYLLAND SILENCE CITY GROUND

Highlights: Wasteful Forest pay price as Midtjylland silence City Ground

Video credit: TNT Sports

22:31

FOREST SUFFER LATE SUCKER PUNCH TO LEAVE QUARTER-FINAL HOPES IN THE BALANCE

Gue-Sung Cho's late header against the run of play helped FC Midtjylland to a crucial 1-0 win at the City Ground, leaving Nottingham Forest with work to do in the second leg.

Forest nearly went behind in the opening few minutes, when Junior Brumado won a free header eight yards out, but could not connect and Murillo got back to head clear.

The hosts regained control, and Omari Hutchinson was central to their attacking play, linking up well with Callum Hudson-Odoi and Morgan Gibbs-White.

After a few long-range efforts were repelled, Forest came closest when Gibbs-White headed a corner goalwards, but ex-Bournemouth midfielder Philip Billing got back to clear.

Despite a positive start to the second half from Vitor Pereira’s side, Midtjylland came closest to breaking the deadlock, when Valdemar Andreasen rattled the bar from the edge of the box.

However, a torrential downpour stalled momentum for both sides, with build-up play increasingly tricky as puddles pooled on the pitch.

Forest pushed for a winner as the clock ticked down, but were hit by a sucker punch of their own as Cho snuck ahead of Ola Aina to direct a header into the bottom corner to send the away fans wild.

From then on, Midtjylland controlled the game with gusto, and take a crucial one-goal lead back to Denmark.

The two sides meet next Thursday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, where Forest need to become the first team to beat Midtjylland on their home turf in any competition this season to progress to the quarters.

22:24

PEREIRA: 'EVEN THE RAIN TODAY PLAYED AGAINST US'

Nottingham Forest manager Vitor Pereira to TNT Sports: "It's difficult to explain, we create so many chances to score a goal. Even if we draw, in my opinion it's not fair. Two chances that they create, they score a goal. We had enough time and I believe that we had the quality to win the game.

"We did everything to score, just missing the goals. In the end it's very frustrating and they came here just to draw and won the game. But happy with my players and happy with the supporters. We try to keep the spirit and prepare the next game against Fulham, and the second leg there.

"Even the rain today played against us. The best moment we created but the rain came and it was difficult."

22:18

WHAT HAS CAUSED THE DROP-OFF FOR ENGLISH SIDES?

There is no worry that this will cost England a fifth Champions League spot though. They have a 100% chance on getting it through coefficient rating.

22:12

HUTCHINSON: 'CONDITIONS WEREN'T THE GREATEST BUT THERE'S NO EXCUSE'

Nottingham Forest's Omari Hutchinson speaking to TNT Sports: "Very frustrating, we had a lot of chances, didn't put them to bed and got punished for it."

On the weather: "I couldn't really see. It was really tough, conditions weren't the greatest but there's no excuse.

"If we don't punish them they'll punish us with one chance. But next week we have a lot of confidence we'll pull it back.

"We had like two chances first half and then the weather came down and things changed. In training we've been working on finishing but today wasn't the day. Hopefully we can put it right Sunday and next week.

"I wouldn't say it's confidence. The crowd was behind us and we thought we were going to get a goal. They defended really well so you've got to give credit to them."

22:04

UNHAPPY SCENES AT SELHURST PARK

22:00

FINAL SCORES ACROSS EUROPE TONIGHT

Here is the story of the night. Congratulations Aston Villa, you are the only one of the nine English sides to win in Europe this week.

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE

Bologna 1-1 Roma

Lille 0-1 Aston Villa

Panathinaikos 1-0 Real Betis

Stuttgart 1-2 Porto

Celta 1-1 Lyon

Ferencvaros 2-0 Sporting Braga

Nottingham Forest 0-1 Midtjylland

Genk 1-0 Freiburg

UEFA CONFERENCE LEAGUE

AZ 2-1 Sparta Praha

Rijeka 1-2 Strasbourg

Lech 1-3 Shakhtar

Samsunspor 1-3 Rayo Vallecano

Crystal Palace 0-0 AEK Larnaca

Fiorentina 2-1 Rakow

Celje 0-4 AEK

Sigma Olomuc 0-0 Mainz 05

21:58

WATCH: FOREST SUFFER LATE SUCKER PUNCH AGAINST MIDTJYLLAND

The moment that made all the difference tonight.

Forest suffer late 'sucker punch' against Midtjylland - 'What a header!'

Video credit: TNT Sports

21:55

FULL TIME! FOREST 0-1 MIDTJYLLAND

Bakwa tries to find Lucca with his cross but can't. Midtjylland manager Mike Tullberg gets booked for mouthing off about something.

One last chance. But Midtjylland win the first header and get it clear.

And that will be that! Pereira fails to win at home again, and his side have a huge task next week in Denmark.

90+3'

FOREST LOOK LIKE A BEATEN TEAM

Elsewhere, Crystal Palace have drawn 0-0 against AEK Larnaca.

Forest, meanwhile look bereft of chances as the clock ticks by. The sodden fans are trudging towards the gates.

So far, Midtjylland have seen this out expertly.

90+1'

MIDTJYLLAND SITTING BACK

Cho makes a good tackle to win the ball high up, but controlled the ball with his hand in the follow through.

All hands on deck for Midtjylland but Cho remains springed for the counter. Five minutes are confirmed.

90'

ANOTHER BAD NIGHT IN FRONT OF GOAL FOR FOREST

Forest have had 75 shots in the last three matches I have worked on, and have scored zero goals. They are really missing Chris Wood, and that could cost them tonight and in the Premier League as well.

Hudson-Odoi scampers down the wing but is expertly shepherded out by Pedro Bravo.

Five minutes of added time expected.

85'

BAKWA ON FOR AINA

Right after that goal from Cho, Vitor Pereria sent Dilane Bakwa on for Aina.

Forest have to go for it, even though they still have 90 minutes in Denmark. They've got to take at least a point at home, probably more.

Midtjylland have not lost at home in all competitions this season.

Substitution in

D. BakwaNottingham Forest

Substitution out

O. AinaNottingham Forest

83'

WARD: 'SUCKER PUNCH FOR FOREST'

Anderson chases an immediate equaliser, but his shot deflects the wrong side of the post.

The corner goes towards Lucca but Murillo steams in and heads over instead.

Lucy Ward on Cho goal speaking to TNT Sports: "They've just punished Forest in the worst possible way. What a header that was. Found the only space to take it past the goalkeeper.

"They've worked so hard Forest, got themselves up the pitch, put pressure on, but Midtjylland always have the threat. It's just simple, ball into the box and Aina let him go. Sucker punch for Forest."

81'

GOAL! FOREST 0-1 MIDTJYLLAND (CHO)

The visitors have just bagged a HUGE goal!

It is so simple as Diao puts in a diagonal cross, and Cho darts across Aina before placing a header right in the corner beyond Sels!

Forest suffer late 'sucker punch' against Midtjylland - 'What a header!'

Video credit: TNT Sports

Goal

G. ChoFC Midtjylland

76'

OLAFSSON IMPRESSING IN GOAL FOR VISITORS

Hudson-Odoi sees his cross caught. Olafsson takes his time again with distribution. Antics aside, he's had a very good match between the sticks.

Diao is now down with cramp as Forest win a corner. Boos from the home fans, but I doubt he wants to be lying down in this bog getting treatment.

Olafsson fights through the mass of bodies to catch the corner.

'Criminal!' - Pereira dismayed on sidelines as Forest fail to get shot away

Video credit: TNT Sports

73'

FOREST COUNTERATTACK FAILS TO MATERIALISE

Lee does brilliantly to not only keep the ball in, but cut it back into a dangerous position, but Anderson gets back to nick the ball off Jensen.

Midtjylland win another corner. Hudson-Odoi tries to start a counter, but Gibbs-White sees his pass cut out.

The quality of this match has certainly dropped since that downpour.

70'

DOUBLE CHANGE FOR FOREST

Here are the substitutions. Dominguez and Jesus come off for Ibrahim Sangare and Lorenzo Lucca.

Lucca is already soaked to the bone and he's only just come on!

Substitution in

L. LuccaNottingham Forest

Substitution out

I. JesusNottingham Forest

RAIN APPEARS TO BE EASING

It looks like, touch wood, the worst of the rain has come. Still not pleasant for the players though.

Both sides have settled down a bit, now more used to the conditions. Forest are readying Lucca and Sangare.

Anderson twists and turns in the box, but fires straight at Olafsson.

Image credit: Getty Images

65'

FOREST HAVEN'T ABANDONED A HOME MATCH FOR RAIN FOR 125 YEARS

There's a long way to go, but there has only been one home match for Forest that has been abandoned due to rain - against Bury in 1901.

There it is, a pass basically stops in a puddle. I'm not sure the pitch can take much more, the rain needs to ease off pronto.

For what it's worth, the Forest penalty area looks a lot drier than the Midtjylland one, which should aid the visitors.

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