Nottingham Forest edge Aston Villa in first leg of Europa tie

May 01, 2026 / 12:13 PM

Sharjah24: New Zealand striker Chris Wood guided Nottingham Forest to a 1-0 win over visitors Aston Villa in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final. Wood scored the only goal of the match from a penalty in the 71st minute.

Key contribution despite injury-hit season

The goal takes Wood’s tally to five for the season, in a campaign disrupted by injuries. His strike moves Forest a step closer to reaching their first European final since 1980.

Post-match reaction

After the game, Wood said: “It’s good to have the advantage, but going to Villa Park will be a tough match. They are strong at home.”

He added: “Small moments can change games. Fortunately, things went our way tonight.”

Strong run under Pereira

Forest, managed by Portuguese coach Vítor Pereira, are on a nine-match winning streak across all competitions. The run has lifted them five points clear of the relegation zone in the Premier League and brought them close to a European final.

Second leg ahead

The second leg will take place at Villa Park, just 50 miles away, on 7 May. The winner will face either Braga of Portugal or Freiburg of Germany in the final in Istanbul on 20 May.