Academy
Share
Our B Team progressed to the Premier League International Cup semi-finals after victory over FC Nordsjælland on Tuesday night, thanks to an Eric da Silva Moreira brace.
Forest started the half the brightest, pinning the Nordsjælland defence back into their own box, with Jack Nadin eventually sliding to intercept a pass, but his effort narrowly cleared the post.
Zach Abbott was next on hand to try and find the back of the net, rising highest at the back post to meet Josh Powell’s header, but clearing the bar with his attempt from a tough angle.
But it was da Silva Moreira who broke the deadlock, latching onto the ball as it was forced through by Kyle McAdam, slotting calmly beyond the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner.
The Reds looked to double their lead shortly after, with Abbott coming close from a another corner, but again heading over the bar.
With Forest prying for a second, Josh Powell forced a dangerous ball into the box, but it was caught by Lykke before it reached Kristian Fletcher, marking the end of a strong first half showing from our B Team.
HALF TIME: Forest 1-0 FC Nordsjælland
The Reds made a fantastic start to the second half as Kyle McAdam again provided for da Silva Moreira as he latched onto a loose pass back in-behind the Nordsjælland defence and squared for Eric to tap into an empty net.
Forest kept pushing to further their lead in the following minutes, forcing the visitors’ defence to hold firm, capturing The Reds offside on a couple of occasions before more scrapping in the box, but no way through for a third goal.
But Nordsjælland showed The Reds that they still had to be alert, with Monsen meeting a loose ball on the edge of the Forest area and rattling the crossbar with his strike.
As the game descended further towards full-time, Acquah rose highest from a corner and found the back of George Murray-Jones’ goal to pull a goal back for the visitors.
But a battling Forest held on to the final whistle, limiting Nordsjælland to few openings and threatening on the counter, eventually securing the win to progress to the Premier League International Cup semi-finals.
FULL TIME: Forest 2-1 FC Nordsjælland
Forest (4-2-3-1): Murray-Jones, da Silva Moreira (Djamna 71’), Powell, Abbott, Thompson, Hammond, Sinclair, Perkins, Fletcher (Newton 87’), Nadin, McAdam
Substitutes: Willows, Newton, Hanks, Collins, Blake, Djamna, Brown
Bookings: da Silva Moreira (43’)
Goals: da Silva Moreira (18’, 50’)
Nordsjælland (4-3-3): Lykke, Walker (Gustafsen 46’), Klemensen, Acquah, Sęidu (Miguel 86’), Johannesson (Vest 58’), Heyde, Berthelsen, Rasmussen (Faber 58’), Monsen, Araphat
Substitutes: Ferree, Gustafsen, Vest, Tuka, Faber, Miguel
Bookings: Monsen (44’), Vest (90+4’)
Goal: Acquah (65’)