NOTTINGHAM, England — Nottingham Forest miss chance to climb into top five as Leicester City snatched a late equalizer for 2-2 draw on Sunday. Facundo Buonanotte‘s stunning goal in the 81st minute saved a point for Leicester, already relegated this season, frustrating Forest’s quest for Champions League football.
The match at City Ground saw Chris Wood score his 20th Premier League goal after Morgan Gibbs-White equalized earlier. However, the draw leaves Nuno Espirito Santo’s team in seventh position, one point behind Chelsea, who lost to Newcastle United earlier that day.
Forest started strong, with Wood having two attempts within the first five minutes. But Leicester struck first in the 16th minute when Conor Coady headed in from a rebound after goalkeeper Matz Sels failed to clear a fierce drive. Just nine minutes later, Forest equalized from a free-kick taken by Gibbs-White, who found the net with a glancing header.
Wood then put Forest in front in the second half with a brilliant diving header from Gibbs-White’s cross. However, Buonanotte restored parity with a spectacular solo effort, leaving Forest frustrated. Late in the game, Sels saved Jeremy Monga’s shot to ensure the draw.
Nuno Espirito Santo acknowledged the frustration of missing an opportunity, saying, “We controlled the game and should have done much better. It’s frustrating.” While Leicester’s Ruud van Nistelrooy expressed pride in his team’s fighting spirit despite relegation, adding, “We want to show what we’re about. We may be down, but we won’t give up.”
Forest now mathematically secure a spot in Europe, but their Champions League fate remains uncertain as they face vital matches against Chelsea and others in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Leicester hopes to finish the season on a positive note after a season of struggles.
Statistics show Forest have only one win from their past six games, having seen a sharp decline in performance. Leicester, on the other hand, aim to build on recent improvements after winning against Southampton last week. With tensions high in the final fixtures, both teams have much to play for, even as Leicester’s relegation reality sets in.
In a season rich with unpredictability, the fight for Europe’s elite competition remains fierce, with Forest’s recent inconsistencies placing them at the mercy of other opponents’ results.
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