NOTTINGHAM, England – Nottingham Forest were denied a crucial victory in their pursuit of Champions League qualification as relegated Leicester City fought back to secure a 2-2 draw with a late equaliser at the City Ground on Sunday.
Argentine midfielder Facundo Buonanotte scored for Leicester with eight minutes remaining, cancelling out what seemed to be a winning position for Forest. Goals from striker Chris Wood and midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White had overturned Conor Coady’s first-half opener for the visitors.
A win would have propelled Nottingham Forest into the Champions League qualification spots, particularly after fellow contenders Chelsea suffered a defeat to Newcastle United earlier in the day. However, the draw leaves Nuno Espirito Santo’s side in seventh position, one point adrift of fifth-placed Chelsea. The result visibly frustrated Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, who approached manager Nuno Espirito Santo on the pitch at the conclusion of the match.
The draw means Forest’s Champions League destiny is no longer solely in their own hands. Victory against Leicester would have allowed them to fully capitalise on Chelsea’s loss, potentially securing a top-tier European spot with wins in their remaining fixtures.
Forest started with intent, creating early opportunities for Chris Wood. After Conor Coady gave Leicester the lead with his first Premier League goal for the club, Forest responded strongly. Morgan Gibbs-White scored the equaliser before Wood headed Forest in front from an Ola Aina cross in the second half.
However, Forest were unable to hold onto their lead. Buonanotte’s solo effort brought Leicester level, and despite a frantic finish with significant added time, neither side could find a winner, with Leicester arguably looking more threatening in the final moments.
For Leicester City, already consigned to relegation, the performance demonstrated a commendable fighting spirit. Under manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, the team has shown improved resilience in recent weeks, despite their overall disappointing campaign. They weathered early pressure from Forest and responded well after falling behind in the second half, with Buonanotte’s goal a highlight.
The outcome is a significant setback for Nottingham Forest, who now face a more challenging path to secure Champions League football, relying on other results to go in their favour.
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