Nottingham Forest edge Aston Villa in Europa League semi-final first leg after Wood penalty

Key facts

• Nottingham Forest beat Aston Villa 1-0 in the Europa League semi-final first leg.
• Chris Wood scored the winning goal from the penalty spot in the first half.
• Aston Villa manager Unai Emery criticized VAR for not reviewing a challenge by Elliot Anderson on Ollie Watkins.
• Emery called the challenge a 'clear red card' that could have broken Watkins's ankle.
• The winner of the tie will face Braga or Freiburg in the final on 20 May.
• Crystal Palace won 3-1 away to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Conference League semi-final first leg.
• Rayo Vallecano beat Strasbourg 1-0 in the other Conference League semi-final first leg.
• Braga defeated Freiburg 2-1 with a stoppage-time winner from Mario Dorgeles.

A narrow advantage for Forest

Nottingham Forest took a slender 1-0 lead to Villa Park after Chris Wood's first-half penalty decided the first leg of their all-Premier League Europa League semi-final at the City Ground. The spot kick, awarded for a handball by Lucas Digne, was thumped into the top corner by Wood, giving Forest a precious advantage ahead of next week's return leg. Despite the result, Forest's performance belied their lowly 16th-place standing in the Premier League, while Aston Villa sit fifth. The hosts edged a tight contest, with Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez making an incredible one-handed save earlier to keep the game goalless.

Emery's fury over VAR decision

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery launched a scathing attack on the video assistant referee after the match, claiming that Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson should have been sent off for a challenge on Ollie Watkins. Emery praised the on-field referee, calling him 'fantastic' and giving him a '10 out of 10', but said the VAR was 'so so bad'. 'I watched it back — wow. Huge. He could break his ankle. VAR where are you? It is your responsibility, we are professionals. It was so clear for everybody. He could break his ankle. It's not fair,' Emery said. The incident occurred in the first half, and Anderson escaped without even a yellow card.

Villa's midfield void and fan frustration

The absence of Boubacar Kamara, who has been sidelined with a long-term injury, has been keenly felt by Aston Villa. One supporter, Sakinah from Birmingham, voiced the frustration of many fans: 'This is not the same Villa team full of energy we saw mid season, we are lacking pace, energy, consistency, and losing Kamara has made somewhat of an impact.' Despite the disappointment, there remains optimism that Villa can overturn the deficit at home. 'I think we can pull this back at home and get to Istanbul!' Sakinah added, referencing the final's venue.

Other semi-final first legs deliver drama

In the other Europa League semi-final first leg, Braga snatched a 2-1 victory over Freiburg with a stoppage-time winner from Mario Dorgeles in the 92nd minute. The Portuguese side now take a narrow lead to Germany for the return leg. In the Conference League, Crystal Palace put one foot in the final with a commanding 3-1 win away to Shakhtar Donetsk. Jorgen Strand Larsen scored a late goal to give Palace a two-goal cushion heading into the second leg in London. Meanwhile, Rayo Vallecano beat Strasbourg 1-0 at home, taking a slender advantage to France.

What lies ahead in the return legs

The semi-final second legs are scheduled for next week, with all four ties still finely poised. Nottingham Forest will travel to Villa Park needing to defend their one-goal lead, while Aston Villa will rely on home support to overturn the deficit. The winners of the Forest-Villa tie will face either Braga or Freiburg in the final on 20 May. Crystal Palace need only avoid a two-goal defeat at home to reach the Conference League final, while Rayo Vallecano's 1-0 lead leaves the tie with Strasbourg wide open. The stage is set for a week of high-stakes European football.

A test of resilience for Villa

For Aston Villa, the second leg represents a test of their resilience. Emery's side have shown attacking flair throughout the season, but defensive lapses and the absence of Kamara have exposed vulnerabilities. The manager's outburst at VAR may also serve to galvanize his squad, though it carries the risk of a fine or touchline ban. Forest, meanwhile, will aim to replicate their disciplined performance away from home. Their ability to absorb pressure and strike on the counterattack could prove decisive. The tie remains delicately balanced, with both teams capable of reaching the final in Istanbul.

The bottom line

• Nottingham Forest lead Aston Villa 1-0 after the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.
• Unai Emery criticized VAR for not reviewing a challenge he deemed a clear red card.
• Boubacar Kamara's absence has impacted Villa's midfield consistency.
• The winner will face Braga or Freiburg in the final on 20 May.
• Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano hold advantages in their Conference League semi-finals.
• Braga snatched a late 2-1 win over Freiburg in the other Europa League semi-final.