Ola Aina’s Nottingham Forest booked their place in the UEFA Europa League semifinals on Thursday night after a hard-fought 2-1 aggregate victory over FC Porto, sealing qualification in a tense second-leg encounter at the City Ground.

The English side showed determination across both legs of the quarterfinal tie to eliminate the Portuguese giants, who named Nigerian internationals Terem Moffi and Zaidu Sanusi in their starting lineup.

Forest entered the second leg with the tie finely balanced following a 1-1 draw in the first meeting, and they capitalised on home advantage to edge a tight contest.

Morgan Gibbs-White struck the only goal of the match with a deflected first-half effort, a decisive moment that proved enough to secure victory on the night. 

Ola Aina played a key role in Nottingham Forest’s defensive structure, contributing to their organisation and stability as they withstood periods of pressure from Porto.

The Premier League side had to remain alert throughout, with Porto pushing for a breakthrough that would have changed the course of the tie.

However, Forest’s back line held firm under sustained pressure, limiting clear chances and managing the game effectively in crucial moments.

Porto, meanwhile, were unable to overturn the deficit despite efforts from their attacking unit.

The Portuguese side showed flashes of quality but lacked the cutting edge required to break down a determined Forest defence.

Wale Adejumo