Chris Wood’s 28th consecutive penalty gives Nottingham Forest Europa League semi-final edge over Aston Villa

Key facts

• Nottingham Forest beat Aston Villa 1-0 in the Europa League semi-final first leg on Thursday 30 April.
• Chris Wood scored the winning penalty in the 71st minute, his 28th consecutive successful spot-kick.
• Wood's last missed penalty was in April 2016 for Leeds United against Hull City.
• The striker had been sidelined since October 2024 with a knee injury and underwent surgery in December.
• Braga defeated Freiburg 2-1 in the other semi-final first leg on the same day.
• The Europa League final will be held in Istanbul on 20 May 2026.
• The winner of the tournament earns a place in the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League.

A decade of perfection from the spot

Chris Wood has not missed a penalty in ten years. On Thursday night, the Nottingham Forest striker extended that remarkable run to 28 consecutive successful spot-kicks, scoring his 200th career goal in the process. His 71st-minute strike, smashed high beyond Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martínez, gave Forest a 1-0 lead in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final. The goal was set up by a moment of defensive madness from Villa left-back Lucas Digne, who raised his arms to handle the ball as Omari Hutchinson attempted to keep it in play. The referee pointed to the spot, and Wood stepped up to an audible cheer from the home crowd. Morgan Gibbs-White had missed two penalties earlier this season, but there was no such anxiety with Wood.

A comeback from injury to lead the charge

Wood’s contribution is all the more remarkable given his recent injury struggles. The New Zealand international had been sidelined since October 2024 with a knee issue and underwent surgery in December. He missed the entirety of Sean Dyche’s brief reign as Forest manager and only returned to action this month. He made his comeback in the quarter-final first leg against Porto three weeks ago, starting the 1-1 draw. Now, after six months out, he is once again leading Forest’s charge toward the Champions League. Forest boss Vitor Pereira described Wood as “the last piece of the puzzle” for a side that narrowly missed out on Europe’s top competition last season.

Forest’s near miss last season and the stakes now

Nottingham Forest came agonisingly close to qualifying for the Champions League last season, finishing seventh in the Premier League on the final day. Wood scored 20 goals in that campaign, but it was not enough. This season, injury threatened to derail his contribution, but his return has reinvigorated the team. The winner of the Europa League earns an automatic place in next season’s Champions League. Forest now take a slender advantage to Villa Park for the second leg on Thursday 7 May. The winners of that tie will face either Braga or Freiburg in the final in Istanbul on 20 May. Braga hold a 2-1 lead from the first leg of the other semi-final.

The numbers behind Wood’s penalty prowess

Wood’s penalty record is extraordinary. His last miss came in April 2016, when he failed to convert for Leeds United against Hull City. Since then, he has scored 28 consecutive spot-kicks, a run that spans nearly a decade and includes penalties for Leeds, Burnley, Newcastle United, and Nottingham Forest. The 200th career goal milestone is another testament to his longevity and consistency. At 33, Wood remains a focal point of Forest’s attack, and his ability to deliver under pressure has become a defining feature of his game. Against Villa, he showed no signs of rust, dispatching the penalty with the same composure that has characterised his entire career.

What lies ahead: second leg and beyond

Forest must now defend their lead at Villa Park, where Aston Villa will be desperate to overturn the deficit. Villa, who finished fourth in the Premier League last season, have their own Champions League ambitions and will rely on home advantage to swing the tie. The second leg promises to be a tense affair. Forest’s defence, which has been resolute throughout the knockout stages, will face a stern test against Villa’s attack. Pereira will hope Wood can continue his scoring run, but the team’s overall performance will determine whether they reach the final. For Wood, a campaign that seemed lost to injury could still end with a trophy and a return to the Champions League.

The bottom line

• Chris Wood’s penalty record is unmatched: 28 consecutive successful spot-kicks over a decade.
• Forest lead 1-0 after the first leg of the Europa League semi-final against Aston Villa.
• Wood returned from a six-month injury layoff to score his 200th career goal.
• The winner of the tie will face Braga or Freiburg in the Istanbul final on 20 May.
• The Europa League champions earn a place in the 2026/27 Champions League.
• Forest missed Champions League qualification on the final day of last season.