Hosts hold off comeback to reach Europa League last 16

Check out our report and watch all the goals from the Europa League play-off second leg

Nottingham Forest fought off a spirited second-leg fightback from Fenerbahce to book their place in the Europa League last 16 despite a 2-1 defeat at the City Ground.

Ahead 3-0 in the tie from the first leg, Forest knew they were in command and made a confident start, with Omari Hutchinson causing problems down the left and Elliott Anderson going closest with an effort that just wide.

Faced with a huge task to overturn a three-goal deficit, Fenerbahce were handed a lifeline out of nowhere when a fast break resulted in Karim Akturkoglu finishing off Sidiki Cherif’s cross to put the visitors 1-0 up on the night.

The goal shifted the mood slightly, but Forest responded well, Anderson again going close as the hosts looked to reassert control in an increasingly tense contest.

A huge chance for Akturkoglu to grab a second did little to settle the atmosphere, before Cherif was denied by the hand of Stefan Ortega as Fenerbahce looked to grab a second before the break.

Pereira made four changes at the break but they gave away a penalty less than minute into the second half, with Akturkoglu sending Ortega the wrong way to put the comeback well and truly on.

Substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi grabbed a huge goal for the hosts when fellow sub Ola Aina found him from the left-hand side, with the winger shifting the ball and finding the far corner to a cue a huge sense of relief around City Ground as their aggregate lead was restored to two goals.

That goal took the wind completely out of the visitors’ sails and Forest were able to hold onto their lead in the tie and continue their European adventure into the last 16.

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