Nottingham Forest moved closer to a spot in next season’s Champions League after a remarkable 1-0 victory over Manchester United on Tuesday. The match saw former Manchester United player, Anthony Elanga, score a sensational solo goal that secured all three points for Forest.
Elanga, who was sold by United to Forest for £15 million in 2023, showed his former club exactly what they were missing. The 22-year-old Swedish winger produced a dazzling display, running nearly the full length of the pitch before coolly finishing past United goalkeeper Andre Onana. Elanga’s goal came in the fifth minute of the match, sending the home crowd at the City Ground into a frenzy.
The goal marked a significant moment for Nottingham Forest, who are now eight points ahead of fourth-placed Chelsea in the race for a Champions League spot. With only eight games left in the season, Forest are on the verge of qualifying for Europe’s premier club competition for the first time since the 1980-81 season. This comes after a remarkable turnaround from last year, when the club narrowly avoided relegation.
Forest’s manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, has been instrumental in guiding the team through an unexpected fairytale season. Despite some key absences, including top scorer Chris Wood and winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, Forest showed resilience and determination to defeat United. The victory also gave Forest their first league double over Manchester United since the 1991-92 season.
United, on the other hand, endured a disappointing defeat, which was their first in eight matches across all competitions. Despite their win over Leicester just before the international break, Manchester United’s inconsistent form continues to frustrate manager Ruben Amorim. United now sit in 13th place in the Premier League, with their hopes of a strong finish to the season fading.
