Nottingham Forest Edges West Ham, Keeps Champions League Hope Alive

London, England — Nottingham Forest secured a vital victory over West Ham United, keeping their Champions League dreams alive in a tense Premier League match at the London Stadium on Sunday.

The match kicked off with an intense pace, as both teams had chances within the first few minutes. However, it was Forest who took the lead in the 11th minute after a critical mistake from West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola. He misplayed a pass intended for Guido Rodriguez, allowing Morgan Gibbs-White to intercept and score into an empty net.

Forest doubled their lead in the second half when defender Nicola Milenkovic redirected a free-kick from Anthony Elanga, though the goal was confirmed only after a lengthy six-minute VAR review due to communication issues and technology malfunctions.

West Ham responded late in the match when Jarrod Bowen volleyed home to bring his team back into contention with just four minutes left, igniting a nerve-wracking finale. The added time saw multiple incidents, including a header from Niclas Füllkrug that was brilliantly saved by Forest’s Matz Sels, amidst a flurry of yellow cards.

Despite the pressure, Nottingham Forest’s defense held firm to secure the win, remaining seventh in the league, just one point behind Newcastle, Chelsea, and Aston Villa, with a final match against Chelsea looming.

This match also held emotional significance for Forest as it was their first since striker Taiwo Awoniyi underwent emergency surgery following a recent injury. During warm-ups, Forest players donned T-shirts supporting Awoniyi, and Gibbs-White honored him by holding up a shirt in his memory after scoring.

West Ham, who have struggled this season, now find themselves in 15th place after their 17th league defeat. Despite a late surge in the match, they could not secure an equalizer. With the end of the season approaching, West Ham manager Graham Potter will need to rebuild a squad that has faced harsh challenges this season.