Nottingham Forest topple Midtjylland on penalties to advance in Europa League

Nicolas Dominguez gave Forest the lead in Denmark. Pic: Bo Amstrup/AP

Midtjylland missed all three of their penalties in a decisive shoot-out as Nottingham Forest overcame a first-leg deficit to book their spot in the Europa League quarter-finals.

Forest had trailed 1-0 heading into the second leg but registered a 2-1 away victory in Denmark before prevailing 3-0 on penalties.

Goals have evaded Forest for the best part of a tough campaign but they made their quality count on a couple of occasions and then again from the spot to set up a quarter-final clash with either Stuttgart or Porto.

A much-changed Forest side were looking to overturn their narrow deficit from the City Ground last week but Vitor Pereira’s team selection made it seem like the focus was on Premier League survival rather than European qualification.

Forest were dominant but were still unable to breach Elias Rafn Olafsson’s goal when Ryan Yates hit the crossbar and Philip Billing cleared one off the line.

However, they managed to get their deserved opener towards the end of the first period courtesy of Nicolas Dominguez’s header and they edged ahead in the tie through captain Yates’ rocket before Martin Erlic’s strike for the hosts sent the match to extra time.

Lorenzo Lucca and Yates had goals ruled out through offside in extra time and, in the shootout, Midtjylland missed all three from the spot while Forest were perfect.

The Danish team had won both of their previous two Europa League meetings with Forest coming into the match but it was the English side that prevailed when it mattered the most to continue their European adventure.