Brighton 0-0 Nottingham Forest result: Visitors triumph 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out to reach the FA Cup semi-finals

Nottingham Forest booked their place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time since 1991 with a penalty shoot-out win at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s men progressed 4-3 via spot kicks for the third time in the competition as goalkeeper Matz Sels saved from Jack Hinshelwood and Diego Gomez, allowing Ryan Yates to crash home the winning penalty after the tie had finished goalless following extra time.  

The visitors were without injured top scorer Chris Wood, but his replacement Taiwo Awoniyi looked lively early on and was unlucky to see a low strike from a narrow angle brilliantly kept out by the foot of Bart Verbruggen.

Forest continued to dominate the first half without making the most of some good situations in the final third and were then relieved to see Hinshelwood head wide from a corner following the restart.

The away side regained the momentum but were left incensed with VAR and referee Peter Bankes past the hour when the official consulted the pitch-side monitor before overturning his initial decision to award a penalty for Kaoru Mitoma’s challenge on Elliot Anderson.

Neither side could find the breakthrough in normal time and the pattern continued in extra time until substitute Gomez’s header was expertly tipped over the crossbar by Sels.

It proved to be a vital save as Forest ensured Brighton suffered the same fate as Exeter City and Ipswich Town in the shoot-out with the East Midlands outfit now looking forward to Sunday afternoon’s draw for the last four, with the semi-finals set to take place at Wembley on the weekend of Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27.

Next up in the Premier League, Forest host Manchester United on Tuesday evening, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, with Brighton at home to Aston Villa on Wednesday. 

"I was a bit nervous to be fair, just so relieved it went in. Matz (Sels) saved two penalties and I just knew I had to capitalise and send us to Wembley," he told BBC Sport.

"It has been an incredible season. We have achieved nothing yet but to send these lot [fans] to Wembley again - we know how special it was last time, getting promoted. It will be a special day and I am so pleased for the supporters and overall I think we deserved it."

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Wayne Rooney on BBC Sport: "Over the course of the evening, Forest deserved to win, they were the better team. It was difficult for Brighton to go out on penalties the way they did."

Theo Walcott: "You can see the connection with the [Forest] fans.

"Forest are going good places at the moment, it's fantastic to see."

Former Brighton forward Glenn Murray: "You can see what it means to Ryan Yates. He has that real rapport with the Forest faithful."

The Reds finally end a run of three straight last-eight defeats to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time since 1991.

Brighton’s quest for a first FA Cup triumph will go on but they can now switch focus to their push for Europe in the Premier League.

Forest’s wonderful season continues as they look ahead to a Wembley semi as well as a push to finish in the Champions League places in the league.

Ryan Yates sends Forest into the semi finals with a thumping penalty!

Dunk finds the side netting with a low kick to keep Brighton alive.  

Milenkovic tucks low into the corner just beyond Verbruggen’s reach.

Sels stands firm and blocks Diego Gomez’s thumping shot down the middle.

Neco Williams skies it over the crossbar and we are all square in the shoot-out.

Hinshelwood’s spot kick is saved by Sels who easily blocks it down to his left.

Hudson-Odoi silences the home crowd with a blistering spot kick into the top corner.

Gruda shimmies and then slots an ice-cool finish beyond the goalkeeper, who was bamboozled and went the wrong way.

Anderson coolly rolls home, sending Verbruggen the wrong way.

Joao Pedro fires beyond Sels' fingertips despite the 'keeper diving the right way to his right.

Brighton 0-0 Nottingham Forest.

One minute added.

Morato on for MGW.

MGW is booked on his way off the pitch as Morato took too long getting ready to come on.

Joao Pedro bundles in from close range after Estupinan had headed Baleba's hoisted pass back across goal.

Replays show Estupinan was clearly offside, making his run way too early.

Good decision. Still 0-0.

Penalties are looming large!