Nottingham Forest Silence Manchester United With Elanga’s World-Class Finish

Nottingham Forest continued their remarkable push for Champions League qualification with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Manchester United at the City Ground, thanks to a breathtaking solo goal from Anthony Elanga.

The former United winger stunned his old club with a moment of brilliance just five minutes into the game, sprinting nearly the entire length of the pitch before clinically finishing past André Onana. Despite relentless pressure from United in the second half, Forest’s resilient defensive display—spearheaded by heroic performances from Murillo and Ryan Yates—secured the three points.

The decisive moment of the match arrived early when United, who had started well, found themselves undone on the counterattack. A United corner was cleared, and Elanga latched onto the loose ball deep in his own half. With his electric pace, the Swedish international evaded challenges in midfield before surging forward, leaving United defenders trailing in his wake.

As he approached the edge of the box, Elanga had the option to pass to Morgan Gibbs-White but instead opted to take on the shot himself. Striking with his left foot, he found the bottom corner beyond the outstretched Onana, sending the City Ground into raptures. Though his celebration was muted out of respect for his former club, his teammates and the Forest faithful made up for it with an eruption of cheers.

Despite falling behind, United responded strongly. Bruno Fernandes forced a save from Matz Sels just minutes after Elanga’s goal, while Diogo Dalot saw his glancing header bounce off the crossbar in the 28th minute. United dominated possession, creating numerous half-chances, but their lack of clinical finishing let them down.

Mason Mount’s introduction in the 78th minute, after a long injury layoff, nearly provided an equalizer. Just moments after coming on, he unleashed a curling strike from 25 yards that whistled just past the post, but it was as close as United came.

The final 20 minutes saw relentless United pressure, but Forest’s defense stood firm. Murillo produced a match-saving clearance in stoppage time, blocking Harry Maguire’s close-range effort on the goal line. Yates was equally crucial, making three crucial blocks to deny Alejandro Garnacho and Fernandes.

In the dying moments, United pushed everything forward, even sending Maguire up as an emergency striker, but Forest’s red wall held firm. When the final whistle blew, Murillo dropped to his knees in celebration, knowing his late intervention had effectively won the game.

This victory marks another significant step for Nuno Espírito Santo’s Forest, who have now collected seven points from their last three home games against Arsenal, Manchester City, and United. They sit 10 points clear of sixth place and look increasingly likely to secure an unexpected Champions League spot.

For United, the result is frustrating but not season-defining. While they remain in contention for Europa League success, their Premier League campaign has been inconsistent. Manager Rúben Amorim will take some positives from their attacking play but will be concerned by their inability to break down Forest’s resilient defense.

Forest will now turn their attention to a crucial away fixture against Aston Villa, while United must regroup ahead of their Europa League tie against Lyon.

Elanga’s stunning goal will undoubtedly be replayed for weeks to come—a reminder of what United let go and a symbol of Forest’s remarkable transformation this season.
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