Friday’s briefing: Wood puts Forest on front foot as Sarr salvo sees Eagles soar
Nottingham Forest will take a slender 1-0 lead into the second leg of their all-English Europa League semi-final with Aston Villa.
An early goal from Ismaila Sarr helped Crystal Palace to a 3-1 win in the first leg of their Conference League semi-final against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Burnley announced the club had parted company with head coach Scott Parker following relegation from the Premier League, while United States president Donald Trump gave given his blessing to Iran competing on his country’s soil at the World Cup.
Chris Wood penalty gives Forest the edge
Chris Wood’s second-half penalty gave Nottingham Forest the advantage in their all-English Europa League semi-final with Aston Villa.
The New Zealand striker emphatically converted from 12 yards to put Forest just 90 minutes away from a first European final in 46 years as they took a 1-0 first-leg lead.
But they will know there is still work to do if they want to try and follow in the footsteps of Brian Clough’s side which won back-to-back European Cups in 1979 and 1980.
The decisive moment of the game came with 20 minutes left, when Omari Hutchinson’s cross was hooked onto the outstretched arms of Villa defender Lucas Digne and Wood confidently dispatched the spot-kick.
Forest boss Vitor Pereira said: “We are at half-time. We will face another tough game. But we will go there not to defend, but to win the game.”
Villa boss Unai Emery was incensed that Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson avoided a red card for his first-half tackle on Ollie Watkins. “It is a huge mistake, a huge mistake,” he said. “It is crazy.”
Crystal Palace have one foot in the Conference League final after Ismaila Sarr scored the quickest goal in the competition’s history to open their 3-1 semi-final first-leg victory over Shakhtar Donetsk.
The Senegal international scored 21 seconds into the contest at the Henryk Reyman Municipal Stadium in Krakow, where the hosts have played their home European games due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Oleh Ocheretko drew the sides level two minutes into the second half before Japanese midfielder Daichi Kamada became the Eagles’ unlikely hero, firing them back in front two minutes before the hour.
Kamada then turned provider for second-half substitute Jorgen Strand Larsen, who added a late cushion and fired Palace even further down the road to Leipzig with six minutes remaining.
“Overall we are very pleased with the performance, but it’s just the first step,” Palace boss Oliver Glasner said to TNT Sports.
Clarets part company with Scott Parker
Scott Parker has left Burnley following the club’s relegation from the Premier League.
Burnley announced on Thursday they had parted company with their head coach by mutual consent.
Parker – who succeeded Vincent Kompany in the summer of 2024 – led the Clarets to promotion to the top flight last year, but this season has been a struggle with his team winning just four league games and were relegated with four matches remaining.
A statement from the club read: “Following confirmation of the club’s relegation from the Premier League last week, Scott Parker and the board held discussions and mutually agreed that his time at Turf Moor would conclude.”
Let Iran play, says Donald Trump
United States president Donald Trump has given his blessing to Iran competing on his country’s soil during this summer’s World Cup, stating: “Let them play.”
Iran’s participation in the finals has been uncertain since the US and Israel launched air strikes on the country on February 28.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has repeatedly insisted Iran would play as scheduled, with all three of their group games taking place in the US, and confirmed again at FIFA’s Congress on Thursday that this would be the case.
Trump was asked about Infantino’s comments in a media briefing later on Thursday, and said: “Well if Gianni said it, I’m OK. Did Gianni say it? Gianni Infantino – that’s a piece of work.”
“You know what, let them play. Gianni is fantastic, he’s a friend of mine, he talked about it, I said, ‘you do whatever you want’.”
What’s on today?
Interim Burnley boss Mike Jackson will take charge of his first match in Friday night’s trip to Leeds, who return to their Premier League survival bid after defeat in the FA Cup semi-finals.