Nottingham Forest narrowly defeated Utrecht with a late 1-2 away win on matchday 6 of the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League season League Phase at the Stadion Galgenwaard on Thursday.

In the first half, Morato and Horemans both nearly scored with headers. In the second half, Kalimuendo scored with a close-range shot from a difficult angle. Later, his half-volley hit the post, and Van der Hoorn scored with a header. In the crucial moments, Igor Jesus tapped in a close-range rebound. Ultimately, Nottingham Forest secured a 1-2 away win against Utrecht. After this round of matches, Utrecht sits in 32nd place with 1 point in the elimination zone; having secured their first European win in the Netherlands since the October 1983 match against PSV Eindhoven, Forest moves up to 11th place with 11 points.

First Half

In the 7th minute, Nicolás Domínguez passes horizontally from near the midfield center circle. Callum Hudson-Odoi quickly followed up, got the ball and cuts into the left side of box before volleying wit his right foot, but his shot was saved by Vasilis Barkas.

Four minutes later, Hudson-Odoi passes horizontally from center of the box. Oleksandr Zinchenko quickly followed up and upon receiving the pass volleyed with his left foot from a very close distance in the box, but his shot went wide of the right side of the post.

In the 14th minute, Douglas Luiz crossed into the from the byline at the right side of the box. and Morato rose high and attempted with a header in the box, however his effort was deflected by Mike Eerdhuijzen and went just over the crossbar. Nottingham Forest almost broke the deadlock!

Six minutes later, Hudson-Odoi passes back from the attacking third. Upon receiving the pass, Douglas Luiz took a right-footed long shot from outside the penalty area. His shot was initially parried and cleared off not far away by Barkas. Dan Ndoye quickly followed up and upon picking up the loose ball, took a right-footed follow-up shot from a difficult angle at the right side of the box, but his shot flew high out of the pitch.

In the 22nd minute, Matisse Didden delivered an ovnerhead through ball from near the midfield center circle. After beating the offside trap, Siebe Horemans quickly followed up and upon receiving the pass, attempted with a header in the box against the outrushing John Victor. Fortunately his effort was timely headed away by Murillo's header. Nottingham Forest almost paid a heavy price for a defensive blunder!

Shortly after, Utrecht earned a corner kick opportunity. Souffian El Karouani took the corner opportunity by crossing it into the box. His pass was initially headed and cleared off not far away by Murillo. Miguel Rodríguez quickly followed up,and Murillo picking up the loose ball, took a left-footed follow-up shot from outside the penalty area, but his shot was saved by John Victor.

At halftime, Utrecht and Nottingham Forest temporarily enter the break with a goalless draw.

Second Half

Both teams switched sides as the match continued. In the 52nd minute, Hudson-Odoi passes horizontally from the left wing. Arnaud Kalimuendo quickly passes got the ball and dribbled into the box before volleying the ball into the bottom right corner of the box from a very close distance in the box with a left-footed shot, breaking the deadlock and giving Nottingham Forest a 1-0 lead! This marked the second consecutive Europa League match that the France U23s international forward had scored!

Eight minutes later, Nottingham Forest earned a corner opportunity. Hudson-Odoi took the corner by crossing it into the box. Domínguez headed it across. Kalimuendo quickly followed up and upon receiving the pass, attempted with a right-footed half-volley from a very close distance in the box, but his shot unfortunately struck the right post and bounced off! Nottingham Forest missed a golden opportunity to score again!

In the 73rd minute, Utrecht had a deadly free-kick opportunity. El Karouani took the free-kick by crossing it into the box before Mike van der Hoorn headed it into the net from a very close distance in the box, leveling the score at 1-1 for Utrecht against Nottingham Forest! The Dutch defender finally broke his 10-year Europa League goal drought!

In the 88th minute, Hudson-Odoi crossed from byline at the left side of the box. Upon receiving the pass, Ndoye attempted with a header in the box, his effort was initially parried and cleared off not far away by Barkas. Upon picking up the loose ball, Igor Jesus slotted the ball into the bottom right corner of the net with a right-footed follow-up shot from a very close distance in the box, to secure a 1-2 win for Nottingham Forest! This was the Brazil international striker's seventh goal of the season!

In the second minute of stoppage time, Nottingham Forest earned a free kick opportunity. Elliott Anderson took the free kick by crossing it into the box. His pass was initially headed and cleared off not far away by Van der Hoorn. After picking up the loose ball, Hudson-Odoi took a right-footed follow-up shot from outside the penalty area, but his shot was saved by Barkas.

When the final whistle is blown, Nottingham Forest secured a late 1-2 away win against Utrecht.