Nottingham Forest Thrives as Elanga Ghosts Former Club Manchester United
Anthony Elanga’s remarkable solo goal enabled Nottingham Forest to keep their Champions League hopes alive with a victory over his former club, Manchester United. After reaching their first FA Cup semi-final in 34 years, Nuno Espirito Santo’s team continued their impressive season by completing a Premier League double over the Red Devils.
Elanga, an academy graduate of United, made a significant impact almost immediately, scoring just five minutes into the match. He embarked on an electrifying run from well inside his half, punishing poor defending with a precise low strike. His goal ultimately secured a 1-0 win for third-placed Forest, despite a late effort from Harry Maguire being cleared off the line by Murillo.
The 22-year-old was the only change to the starting lineup from Saturday’s penalty shoot-out victory against Brighton. In the first half, Diogo Dalot’s header rattled the crossbar, but, as has often been the case this season, United failed to capitalize on their moments of dominance. Substitute Maguire was denied an equalizer at the final whistle by Murillo.
The atmosphere at the City Ground was electric, with fans chanting about their upcoming trip to Wembley. After Matz Sels handled Bruno Fernandes’ long-range effort poorly, the ensuing corner was eventually cleared, allowing Elanga to break forward from midfield. He confidently crossed the halfway line, shrugged off a challenge from Alejandro Garnacho, and struck a low left-footed shot past Andre Onana from just inside the penalty area.
Forest continued to trouble United with their direct play. Fernandes had a header saved, and Casemiro missed the target with a wide shot as Ruben Amorim’s team sought to equalize. Dalot came close again, nodding a corner onto the bar in the 28th minute.
As the first half came to a close, Forest made two changes and switched to a back three after standout right-back Ola Aina limped off the pitch. United striker Rasmus Hojlund replaced Manuel Ugarte at halftime and quickly had a shot deflected into the side-netting, while Casemiro saw a header saved from the subsequent corner.
Onana made a superb save from a header by the offside Ryan Yates. Shortly after, Yates drew a foul from Casemiro, resulting in the frustrated midfielder receiving a yellow card. Forest fans called for a red card after a challenge involving Morgan Gibbs-White, but the midfielder escaped punishment. Amorim wisely substituted him amid a chorus of boos, while Garnacho desperately attempted to bring United back into the game.
After sending one shot off-target, Garnacho had another blocked and dragged a third attempt wide. Amorim expressed frustration over perceived time-wasting, while Dorgu had a header saved by Sels just as United’s Mason Mount fired a 20-yard effort narrowly wide.
In the search for an equalizer, Maguire was brought on as a makeshift striker, but he headed wide in stoppage time and was denied a close-range effort by Murillo, who cleared it off the line.
