Nottingham Forest 1-1 Ipswich Town (aet, 5-4 on pens): Shoot-out hero Sels secures FA Cup progress

Matz Sels made the crucial save as Nottingham Forest beat Ipswich Town 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the FA Cup fifth round.

Forest, who beat lower-league Exeter City on spot-kicks in the fourth round, once again needed a shoot-out to progress.

But goalkeeper Sels was their hero at the City Ground, as he lunged to his left to keep out Jack Taylor’s attempt after Forest had converted all five of their penalties.

Ipswich took the lead on Monday, with George Hirst heading them in front in the 53rd minute.

Yet Ryan Yates responded with a fine header of his own 15 minutes later to swing the momentum back in Forest’s favour.

Callum Hudson-Odoi struck the crossbar with a brilliant attempt but after 30 minutes of extra time failed to separate the teams, penalties were required and Sels took centre stage as Taylor failed to generate enough power on his low effort.

Forest will face Brighton in the quarter-finals, with Nuno Espirito Santo’s team just one win away from a Wembley semi-final.

Just look at what that win means to Nuno Espírito Santo #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/ZxsjZbkH4S

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 3, 2025

Data Debrief: Forest on point from the spot

Forest have won all four of their FA Cup penalty shoot-outs – only Macclesfield Town and Stevenage (both 5/5) have managed recorded more shoot-out wins without losing in the competition proper.

The Tricky Trees have now reached the FA Cup quarter-finals in two of the last four seasons (also 2021-22), having done so in just one of the previous 29 campaigns.

It was a tight encounter throughout, with Ipswich generating chances worth 0.72 expected goals, while Forest finished with 1.16 xG.

Yates got Forest’s crucial equaliser, though. He has netted two goals in his last three games in all competitions, as many as in his previous 26.