Nottingham Forest will meet Brighton in the FA Cup quarter-final as Matz Sels’ sudden death save earned them a spot in the last eight at Ipswich’s expense.
With neither side able to be separated after the scoreline at 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra-time, there were nine perfect penalties in the shootout before Jack Taylor stepped up.
The Ipswich midfielder, who already missed one penalty against AFC Wimbledon earlier this season, could only find Sels’ body to send the City Ground into raptures.
The result means Forest will meet Brighton at the Amex Stadium for the last eight clash on the weekend of March 29/30.
Sels saved from Jack Taylor in sudden death
Matz Sels is congratulated by teammates after saving a penalty in the shootout
The cup tie was a slow burner after a frantic FA Cup fifth round weekend. Forest named attacking hotshots Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White on the bench and ended the first half without a shot on target.
Ipswich rested Liam Delap among other important players but his replacement George Hirst gave the Tractor Boys the lead early in the second half, heading home at the far post after Forest fell asleep at a corner.
George Hirst celebrates giving Ipswich the lead at Nottingham Forest
But after Nuno Espirito Santo brought on Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson, Forest found their leveller when Ryan Yates headed in from close after a superb delivery from the excellent Anthony Elanga.
Both sides threatened to win the cup tie in normal time as Murillo stung Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer’s gloves with a rasping long-range drive, before Callum Hudson-Odoi rattled the top of the crossbar after a short corner routine.
Yates was also denied a second Forest goal but the offside flag, with semi-automated offsides not needed to validate the clear decision.
Ryan Yates heads Forest level against Ipswich
At the other end, Hirst headed over from close range immediately after Forest’s leveller before Jack Clarke spurned a good chance to win it by firing wide at the near post – but neither side could be separated after 90 minutes.
Extra-time passed with Sam Morsy firing wide early on, while Forest substitute Jota Silva dragged the last meaningful effort of the game wide of goal. That left penalties and Sels’ moment of magic.
It was the second round in a row where Forest have required penalties, having overcome Exeter City from 12 yards in the last round, but Nuno’s special season carries on – and they are one step away from Wembley.
More to follow…
