Nottingham Forest vs Wolves final score, result (EFL Cup): Dean Henderson’s excellence

Nottingham Forest vs Wolves Highlights

Nottingham Forest defeated Wolves 4-3 in a penalty shootout to advance to the Carabao Cup semifinals, and Dean Henderson was the match-winning goalkeeper. The goalkeeper for Manchester United on loan made a strong save to stop Joe Hodge's penalty kick after stopping Ruben Neves' penalty to advance Steve Cooper's Reds to the round of 16, where they will take on Manchester United. After ex-Wolves defender Willy Boly, who played for Molineux for five seasons, bundled in a corner from close range (18), Raul Jimenez saved the visitors with a simple tap-in in normal time (64) but they were unable to score the equalizer they frequently threatened. Forest hasn't advanced to the semifinals since United defeated them in the 1991–92 season, thanks to the victory.

Nottingham Forest vs Wolves summary

Both teams didn't seem eager to start strong because the idea of making it to the competition's semifinals was so foreign to them. It was the same for Forest, who made it to the final in 1992, and the Wolves, who last made it past the quarterfinals when they won it in 1979/80. Long stretches of ball possession were given to the visitors, who were safe in the knowledge that, for the most part, their opponents couldn't threaten as a result of their dominance, according to Forest.

However, this made Forest more likely to launch swift, effective counterattacks, and when one resulted in a corner, they rightfully took the lead. Jonny unintentionally assisted the ball onto the bar after Serge Aurier flicked an in-swinging delivery on at the near post, but Boly was there to add the finishing touch. Unexpectedly, there was no party that followed. In contrast, Wolves started to gain control of the match and might have tied it up at the break but for Henderson, who first stopped Jimenez's curling shot before stopping Hee-Chan Hwang with a forceful one-handed save.

Following the break, Julen Lopetegui's team continued where they left off and came within inches of scoring once more when a misdirected header from Neves set up Brennan Johnson, forcing Jose Sa to dive full stretch to his left to make the save. After 64 minutes of play, they at last received their reward. As a result of a strong partnership between Matheus Nunes and Matheus Cunha, the latter placed the ball on a plate for Jimenez to score the long-awaited equalizer, his third in as many games in the competition this season. But in just a few minutes, it was all but undone when Jack Colback's pass nicked Nelson Semedo's knee and rebounded off the post before the ball was hurriedly hooked clear.

While Wolves pushed for a winner, Forest resisted and ultimately forced the shoot-out. It got underway dramatically with Jose Sa and Henderson stopping Sam Surridge and Neves, respectively. The pressure was on 20-year-old Joe Hodge to keep Wolves in the match and force sudden death after each of the following seven goals were scored. But when Henderson, who was impressive all night, made a save to let Forest through, it was not to be.

Goals

Nottingham: Willy Boly 18’

Wolves: Raul Jimenez 64’

Nottingham Forest vs Wolves Line-ups and ratings

Nottingham Forest: Henderson (8), Aurier (6), Worrall (6), Boly (7), Lodi (6), Yates (6), Freuler (6), Mangala (5), Scarpa (5), Johnson (6), Gibbs-White (7).

Subs: McKenna (6), Colback (6), Surridge (5), Dennis (5).

Wolves: Sa (6), Jonny (6), Toti (7), Kilman (7), Semedo (7), Moutinho (6), Nunes (6), Ait-Nouri (5), Hwang (5), Guedes (5), Jimenez (7).

Subs: Neves (5), Podence (5), Cunha (6), Traore (5), Hodge (5).

Player of the match: Dean Henderson.