Nottingham Forest 1-1 Wolves (Forest win 4-3 on penalties): Dean Henderson the hero in shoot-out as Forest make semis

Nottingham Forest made it into the EFL Cup semi-finals after beating Wolves 4-3 on penalties after a fiery contest at The City Ground.

A Willy Boly header against his former club in the first-half put the hosts ahead, but it was cancelled out by Raul Jimenez’s tap-in in the 64th minute to send the game to a shoot-out.

Forest went in front in the 18th minute through a slice of luck. From a corner, a near post flick-on from Serge Aurier came off the bar and Jonny Otto before falling into the path of Boly to tap in from point-blank range.

Wolves responded positively and they would have got an equaliser in the first-half if not for two brilliant saves from Dean Henderson.

The Manchester United loanee denied Raul Jimenez in a one-on-one situation with a smart reflex save before batting away Hwang Hee-Chan’s side-footed volley in the 40th minute.

Jose Sa was forced into making a fine save five minutes into the second half when a poor header from substitute Ruben Neves fell into the path of Brennan Johnson, whose low strike was parried away by the Portugal international.

Against the run of play Wolves got an equaliser. Moments after Matheus Cunha came off the bench, the Atletico Madrid loanee provided a fine driven cross for Jimenez to tap in at the far post.

The game got increasingly scrappy with a place in the semi-final draw in their sights. Forest almost scored in fortunate circumstances when a one-two involving substitutes Emmanuel Dennis and Jack Colback deflected off Nelson Semedo’s knee and off the inside of the post.

Neither side could be separated and a shoot-out ensued. Sam Surridge and Neves missed the opening penalties for the respective sides, but it was Joe Hodge who missed Wolves’ all-important fifth one.

His effort was well saved by Henderson which sparked the Forest supporters into raptures – and the club into the last four.

TALKING POINT – Forest in the conversation for silverware

Forest are through to the League Cup semi-finals for the first time in 31 years. History aside, manager Steve Cooper will be delighted with his side’s victory off the back of a disappointing 4-1 loss to Blackpool in the FA Cup third round last weekend.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Dean Henderson

The Forest goalkeeper pulled off two excellent saves in the first half and saved two penalties in the shoot-out.

PLAYER RATINGS

N Forest: Henderson (8), Aurier (7), Worrall (6), Boly (7), Lodi (6), Mangala (5), Freuler (5), Yates (5), Scarpa (6), Gibbs-White (7), Johnson (7)

Subs: Colback (6), Surridge (6), Dennis (6), McKenna (6)

Wolves: Sa (6), Semedo (5), Jonny (5), Kilman (5), Toti (5), Ait-Nouri (5), Moutinho (5), Nunes (5), Guedes (4), Jimenez (6), Hwang (6)

Subs: Neves (3), Podence (6), Cunha (7), Traore (n/a), Hodge (n/a)

KEY MOMENTS

18′ – GOAL! FOREST TAKE THE LEAD! It’s scrappy but Forest will take it and it’s Boly with the goal against his former club! From a corner the ball is flicked up into the air by Aurier at the near post. It comes off the bar, off Jonny and into the path of Boly who pokes in from point-blank range! It’s a muted celebration from him but Forest are in front!

36′ – BIG CHANCE FOR WOLVES! All of a sudden Wolves squander a huge goalscoring opportunity! Jimenez and Hwang play a neat one-two but Henderson makes a brilliant reflex save to deny the Mexican from close range before Guedes blasts the rebound over the bar!

40′ – WHAT A SAVE! Jimenez’s cross to the far post finds Hwang and he gets a fine shot on goal with a sidefooted effort on the volley, but Henderson extends his right arm and bats it away! Brilliant stop!

64′ – GOAL! JIMENEZ EQUALISES FOR WOLVES!! We are all square! It is a fantastic assist from Cunha just moments after the Brazilian comes off the bench! He drives a low ball into the corridor of uncertainty and Jimenez is there at the far post to tap it in. Jimenez points to his team-mate in celebration to thank him for the assist. Game on!

PENS: N FOREST 4-3* WOLVES – Hodge to keep Wolves in the tie… but his shot is saved by Henderson!! FOREST ARE INTO THE SEMI-FINALS!

KEY STAT