Porto 1-1 Nottingham Forest: Gomes 11; Fernandes 13 o.g.
Nottingham Forest held Porto to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final, with a bizarre own goal by Martim Fernandes levelling the score after William Gomes had put the Portuguese side in front.
Forest manager Vitor Pereira heavily rotated his squad with one eye on the crucial Premier League run-in, making nine changes from the side that beat Tottenham Hotspur. Striker Chris Wood was handed his first start in 173 days after recovering from knee surgery, though his minutes were carefully managed as he was withdrawn at half-time.
The hosts started sharply and nearly scored inside the opening minute when Seko Fofana released Terem Moffi, forcing Stefan Ortega into an early save before denying a follow-up effort. Porto really should have opened the scoring much earlier given a number of wasted chances but their pressure paid off in the 11th minute when Gomes finished at the back post after a well-worked team move.
Forest, however, were handed an unlikely route back into the match almost immediately. Fernandes attempted a back-pass to goalkeeper Diogo Costa, only to overhit it and send the ball into his own net from distance.
The equaliser shifted the momentum, though Forest offered limited attacking threat. Wood struggled for involvement before being replaced at the break. In the second half, Forest thought they had taken the lead when Igor Jesus finished from close range, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR check for handball.
Porto responded by increasing the pressure, with Ortega producing key saves to deny Gomes again, while substitutes Deniz Gul and Victor Froholdt both went close late on.
