Sels saves edge Nottingham Forest past Brighton on penalties to reach FA Cup semis

This season just keeps getting better for Nottingham Forest. A third successive penalty shootout victory in this season’s FA Cup thanks to the heroics of goalkeeper Matz Sels booked a place in the semi-final for the first time since 1991 as Nuno Espírito Santo’s side showed all their fighting spirit that has served them so well in the Premier League.

The Forest manager will argue that it was the result they deserved after the video assistant referee’s controversial decision to overrule a second-half penalty that was originally awarded by referee Peter Bankes. But having come closest to winning it during extra time, this was a bitter pill for Fabian Hürzeler and his side to swallow as they attempted to reach a third semi-final in seven seasons.

Jack Hinshelwood and Diego Gómez both saw their spot kicks saved by Sels, who was the hero in the two previous rounds against Exeter and Ipswich, before hometown boy Ryan Yates stroked home the decisive penalty to seal a famous triumph.

There was a carnival atmosphere among the 4,500 away fans who packed out their end despite problems with local trains. But Nuno perhaps showed where his priorities lie by surprisingly opting to change the entire front three from Forest’s win over Ipswich before the international break that strengthened their chances of playing Champions League football next season.

Taiwo Awoniyi replaced top scorer Chris Wood after he picked up a hip injury helping New Zealand seal their place at next year’s World Cup by beating New Caledonia, while the in-form wingers Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga also made way.

Brighton’s change of fortunes since their 7-0 thrashing at the City Ground on 1 February has been a testament to Hürzeler’s man management, the German admitting in the past week that his players “took a lot of ownership” of the situation. They have won four and drawn one of their five Premier League matches since then to reignite hopes of another European campaign and also dumped Chelsea out of this competition in the last round.

Yet it was the visitors who made the more impressive start as they forced a corner inside the opening minute and looked far more incisive whenever they sprang forward. A burst down the right flank from Ola Aina created the first sight of goal for Awoniyi after 16 minutes but Bart Verbruggen did well to save his effort with his legs.

Nottingham Forest celebrate winning their third successive penalty shootout in this year’s FA Cup. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

Brighton were badly lacking in creativity as Forest managed to nullify the threat posed by their wide players Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh. It took a deflected shot from Yasin Ayari that whistled wide of Matz Sels’s far post to wake up a strangely subdued home crowd given the size of the occasion.

The Forest goalkeeper made a bit of a meal of dealing with a long-range shot from Pervis Estupiñán that bounced awkwardly in front of him but managed to push the ball away to safety. Having clashed here in September during a feisty 2-2 draw when the two managers were sent to the stands, both appeared to be much calmer as Awoniyi failed to get on the end of a low cross from Morgan Gibbs-White.

At the other end, Mitoma could not take advantage when Georginio Rutter played a lovely through ball that Nikola Milenkovic did well to shepherd away from danger, as the two sides continued to cancel each other out. A swerving shot from Carlos Baleba on the stroke of half-time that almost obliterated a camera behind the goal was by far the closest anyone had come to breaking the deadlock.

Brighton showed their intent at the start of the second half when Rutter fired just over from a tight angle after a corner. Gibbs-White managed to hit the target moments later at the other end after good work down the left from the Brazilian midfielder Danilo and Awoniyi but Verbruggen was able to push his shot over the crossbar as the game finally came alive. Hürzeler could not believe it when Jack Hinshelwood passed up a golden opportunity to open the scoring as he failed to make decent contact with a header from a corner.

That was the signal for Nuno to call on Hudson-Odoi and Elanga from the bench, with the latter replacing Awoniyi through the middle. The game’s big flashpoint occurred almost immediately when Anderson broke into the area and was brought down by Mitoma’s trailing arm after he slid into a challenge. The referee initially pointed to the spot but was advised to overturn his decision after the video assistant referee ruled there had not been enough contact. Nuno was clearly not amused.

Rutter’s evening was over when he limped off 15 minutes from full time after failing to stop a Forest attack and Brighton struggled to create any meaningful chances as Forest shut up shop in defence. Perhaps mindful that any mistake could be terminal, neither team seemed willing to throw caution to the wind and go in search of a winning goal as the clock ticked towards full time.