Itâs a huge moment for Nottingham Forest and our journey â Nuno Espirito Santo
The Reds reached their first FA Cup semi-final in 34 years with a penalty shoot-out victory over Brighton.
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Nuno Espirito Santo savoured a âhuge momentâ for Nottingham Forest after they reached their first FA Cup semi-final in 34 years.
Goalkeeper Matz Sels saved spot-kicks from Jack Hinshelwood and Diego Gomez as Forest beat Brighton 4-3 on penalties after a goalless draw at the Amex Stadium.
Sels had previously made crucial saves in shoot-outs against Exeter and Ipswich in the previous two rounds.
This time he had Forest partying like it was 1991, the last time they reached the last four of the competition under Brian Clough.
âGood goalkeeping but also good shooting,â said Nuno. âThe third time and itâs the first penalty we missed in all the shoot-outs.
âItâs credit to the players. And of course fantastic goalkeeping.â
Neco Williams skied his penalty for Forest but it did not matter as captain Ryan Yates stepped up to send the Reds through.
âIt means a lot for all of us and especially for him to take the last penalty to send us to Wembley. Remarkable,â added Nuno, who sat in the dug-out throughout the shoot-out while the rest of the players and staff stood shoulder-to-shoulder on the touchline.
âIâm too nervous. Itâs a moment of anxiety. And superstition. I just prefer to sit down.
âIt means a lot, itâs a huge moment for our club and on our journey. Itâs a huge competition, the FA Cup. We are delighted.â
Stuart Pearce was in Forestâs class of â91, and he was on radio commentary duty at the Amex and looking in fine fettle following his recent health scare.
Pearce knew a thing or two about penalty shoot-outs so he would have enjoyed the climax, if not the 120 minutes that preceded it.
Forest were awarded a penalty when Kaoru Mitoma slid in on Elliot Anderson, only for referee Peter Bankes to change his mind on review.
Gomez went closest to winning it for Brighton in extra time, but his header was tipped over by Sels.
It meant Brighton were denied a third semi-final appearance in seven years, and boss Fabian Hurzeler admitted the result hurt as much as the 7-0 drubbing by the same opposition in the Premier League last month.
âNo difference. Itâs two big losses,â said the German, who chose the penalty takers himself.
âI take responsibility. In the end they had a great goalkeeper and in the end we werenât able to win this game.
âI think in the 90 minutes we didnât do enough to win this game. In the extra time we did enough. Then we had some big chances and we werenât able to score.
âThe main thing now is to show a reaction. To be disappointed today and tomorrow, keep the heads up and show a reaction and prove we are able to stick together as a team.â