Anton Stach finds the one gap Matz Sels left, and Leeds steal the City Ground at 88
Forest hit the post, missed the headers and controlled the ball. Leeds had a free-kick specialist. Stach's long-range effort slipped inside the near post two minutes from time and settled a game that was drifting nowhere.
For 87 minutes this was heading for the 0-0 that both sides had more or less earned. Then Leeds got a free-kick in Anton Stach's range, and Matz Sels was still setting his wall when the ball was past him at the near post.
It was a goalkeeping error and a specialist's strike at the same time — Stach hit it early, low and to the side Sels had left, and the City Ground went quiet.
Forest will regret the first 80 minutes more
Nikola Milenkovic hit the woodwork. Igor Jesus headed over from a good position. Chris Wood dragged a shot wide. Forest had 55.2% of the ball and twelve shots and put only two of them on target.
That is the difficulty with losing this way: the free-kick is what everyone will talk about, but a side that converts one of three clear chances never gets to the 88th minute needing to defend a set piece at all.
Leeds, for their part, were not much better with the ball — 71% pass accuracy, the lowest of the round so far. They did not need to be.
Match facts
- 88' — Anton Stach (Leeds United), free-kick
- Milenkovic hit the post for Forest
- Igor Jesus and Chris Wood both missed clear openings
| Stat | Nottingham Forest | Leeds United |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 55.2% | 44.8% |
| Total shots | 12 | 11 |
| Shots on target | 2 | 3 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 0.65 | 0.49 |
| Corners | 3 | 2 |
| Fouls conceded | 15 | 14 |
| Offsides | 3 | 3 |
| Yellow cards | 2 | 1 |
What's next
Nottingham Forest go to Liverpool on Saturday 29 August, which is a hard place to go looking for a first point of the season. Leeds host Brentford on Sunday 30 August, with three points already banked and rather more belief than the performance strictly earned them.
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