Sels settles it as Forest seal first FA Cup semi-final in 34 years 

After a tense, tight quarter-final with few scoring opportunities, it was Forest who held their nerve to progress into the last four after a third successive shoot-out. Sels saved from Brighton’s Jack Hinshelwood and Diego Gomez and Yates completed the job after his teammate Neco Williams had fired over.

The outcome softened the controversy surrounding referee Peter Bankes’ decision to overturn his original penalty decision when Forest midfielder Elliott Anderson went down under a 64th-minute challenge by Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma, prompting an angry reaction from Nuno and his players. It also meant Brighton were denied revenge for their 7-0 defeat at the City Ground just six weeks ago.

It soon became clear this would be a much tighter affair than the last meeting between these two teams. Chris Wood’s absence after picking up a hip injury while on international duty with New Zealand meant Forest were deprived of their leading scorer. And the visitors’ attacking options were further diminished by Nuno’s decision to start Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga, his first choice wingers, on the bench.

The line-up suggested the manager had one eye on Tuesday’s meeting with Manchester United at the City Ground when Forest can tighten their hold on a Champions League place. But even without three of his regular forwards, Nuno could be satisfied with the way his side stifled Brighton and began to take control of the game.

Forest’s high-tempo pressing prevented Brighton developing their usual flowm, Fabian Hurzeler’s side finding themselves undermanned in midfield. Yet while Forest dominated possession for long periods, they struggled to test Bart Verbruggen after the Albion keeper had kept out Taiwo Awoniyi’s shot with his feet.

Not that Brighton were any more effective in the final third. The home side finally conjured an attempt on goal when Yasin Ayari’s 27th-minute shot was deflected wide but the opportunity only arose after a couple of fortunate ricochets. Pervis Estupinan drilled in a more convincing effort from 35 yards that Sels failed to gather cleanly and Brighton again came close when Carlos Baleba shot narrowly wide immediately before the break.

Signs that the home side were growing into the game were reinforced after the restart as Albion appeared determined to put their underwhelming first-half display behind them Georginio Rutter shot over from a tight angle and Jack Hinshelwood sent a glancing header wide from a corner.

It was Forest though who were convinced they should have made the breakthrough four minutes after Hudson-Odoi and Elanga had been introduced when Anderson went to ground in the Brighton box after a sliding challenge by Mitoma. Replays showed Mitoma’s trailing elbow had caught the midfielder’s foot but the referee adjudged no foul had been committed after reviewing the incident.

With scoring opportunities at a premium, it came as little surprise the game moved into extra-time. And after Brighton substitute Diego Gomez saw a 109th minute header tipped over by Sels, neither team was able to prevent the need for a shoot-out.

Brighton & Hove Albion (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen 6; Hinshelwood 6, Van Hecke 9, Webster 7 (Dunk 9, 6), Estupinan 7; Baleba 6, Ayari 6 (Gomez 81,6); Minteh 6, Rutter 7 (Gruda 75,6), Mitoma 5 (Adingra 71,6); Welbeck 5 (Pedro 71, 6).

Subs not used: McGill, Cashin, O'Riley, Tasker.

Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Sels 6; Aina 8, Milenkovic 7, Murillo 7, Williams 7; Yates 7, Anderson 8; Dominguez 6 (Jota 95,6), Gibbs-White 6 (Morato 119), Danilo 5 (Hudson-Odoi 61, 6); Awoniyi 6 (Elanga 61, 7).

Subs not used: Miguel, Sangare, Toffolo, Moreno, Boly.

Referee: Peter Bankes 5