Nottingham Forest edged closer to securing a Champions League spot after a sensational solo goal by Anthony Elanga sealed a 1-0 victory over Manchester United on Tuesday.
Elanga, facing his former club, delivered a moment of brilliance as he sprinted over half the length of the pitch before firing a clinical finish past Andre Onana. The 22-year-old Swedish winger, offloaded by United for £15 million ($19 million) in 2023, has thrived at Forest and made his former employers pay with a stunning strike at the City Ground.
The victory further solidified Nuno Espirito Santo’s side in third place, now eight points clear of fourth-placed Chelsea, who face Tottenham on Thursday. With just eight games remaining, Forest are on the brink of qualifying for the Champions League for the first time since the 1980-81 season.
This remarkable campaign has seen Forest transform from relegation battlers to European contenders, with an FA Cup semi-final appearance also adding to their fairytale season.
Despite being fatigued from Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final triumph over Brighton, Nuno’s squad refused to make excuses and delivered another big performance, even without key players Chris Wood and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Forest’s victory marked their first league double over United since the 1991-92 season and the first time they had remained unbeaten in both league meetings with the Red Devils since 1994-95.
For United, the defeat ended an eight-game unbeaten streak across all competitions. Despite recent victories over Leicester in the Premier League and Real Sociedad in the Europa League, they reverted to their inconsistent form under Ruben Amorim, languishing in 13th place ahead of their upcoming clash with Manchester City.
A raucous City Ground crowd erupted in the fifth minute when Elanga produced a breathtaking individual effort.
Seizing possession deep in his own half after a failed United corner, the Swede launched an electrifying counter-attack, covering 85 metres in just nine seconds. As United’s backline hesitated, Elanga shrugged off Alejandro Garnacho’s challenge before driving into the box and slotting a precise low shot past Onana.
United’s vulnerability in conceding early goals continued—only struggling Leicester have let in more opening goals in the Premier League this season.
Ruben Amorim’s men had chances to respond, with Bruno Fernandes’ header from a Diogo Dalot cross saved by Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels. Casemiro then squandered an even better opportunity, nodding wide from a Fernandes corner, while Dalot saw a looping header crash against the crossbar before Matthijs de Ligt’s follow-up was denied by Sels.
United’s attack failed to click despite the introduction of Rasmus Hojlund at halftime. Garnacho posed a threat with two long-range efforts, while injury-plagued Mason Mount, making his first appearance of 2025, fired narrowly wide.
Forest, however, stood firm, with defender Murillo clearing a late Harry Maguire effort off the line to ensure another famous victory in their dream season.
