Hudson-Odoi’s Late Strike Stuns Man City as Forest Edge Closer to Champions League Dream
Nottingham Forest’s Callum Hudson-Odoi delivered a dramatic late winner to secure a 1-0 victory over Manchester City at the City Ground, boosting his side’s aspirations of a top-four finish and a coveted Champions League berth.
The decisive moment arrived in the 83rd minute when the 24-year-old winger expertly controlled a sublime diagonal ball from Morgan Gibbs-White. With a burst of pace, he cut inside City defender Josko Gvardiol before rifling a low shot between Ederson and the near post, sending the home crowd into raptures.
A Tight Contest with Few Openings
In a match of limited clear-cut opportunities, City came closest in the first half when Nico Gonzalez’s speculative long-range effort brushed the outside of the post. After the interval, Hudson-Odoi nearly doubled his tally, forcing Ederson into a fine save that tipped his curling effort onto the woodwork.
The victory marked Forest’s first league triumph over Manchester City since 1997 and further solidified their position as one of this season’s surprise packages.
“I’m absolutely buzzing with the goal,” said a jubilant Hudson-Odoi post-match. “We fought for every ball, every battle, and I’m delighted we got the win for the fans. Just look at them—absolutely amazing.”
The City Ground faithful, packed with nearly 30,000 passionate supporters, erupted at the final whistle, celebrating yet another milestone in their team’s remarkable campaign.
Forest ‘Staying Humble’ Amid European Push
The result leaves Forest in third place on 51 points with 10 matches remaining, putting them in a strong position to secure a place in Europe’s elite competition for the first time since the mid-1990s.
Despite their meteoric rise, manager Nuno Espirito Santo and his players remain grounded. “We know the position we’re in, but there’s still a long way to go,” Hudson-Odoi added. “It’s about staying humble, keeping our focus, and picking up as many points as possible.”
City Left Searching for Precision
For reigning champions Manchester City, the defeat sees them remain in fourth place on 47 points, with Chelsea and Newcastle United close behind on 46 and 44 points, respectively.
Although City dominated possession, their lack of clinical finishing proved costly. Guardiola, while acknowledging Ederson’s error for the goal, refrained from being overly critical of his squad.
“We controlled transitions well, but we weren’t precise in front of goal,” Guardiola admitted. “It was a tight game, and in the end, they took their chance. We now have 10 matches left to qualify for the Champions League—we need to win games, and that starts next week against Brighton.”
With the Premier League season reaching its climax, Nottingham Forest continue to defy expectations, while City face increasing pressure to secure their top-four status in a fiercely competitive race for European football.