Nottingham Forest beat Aston Villa in Europa League

Nottingham, May 2: Chris Wood scored from the penalty spot to give Nottingham Forest a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa in the first leg of their all-English Europa League semi-final.

In a clash between two clubs aiming to revive former European glory, the win at the City Ground moves Forest a step closer to what would be its first continental final in 46 years.

Wood struck his 71st-minute penalty high into the net, leaving goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez with no chance after defender Lucas Digne was penalised for handball.

“It’s nice to have the advantage, but going to Villa Park will be a tough game,” the New Zealand striker told TNT Sports. “We’ve done the job at home and now hopefully we’ll build on it next week.”

Vítor Pereira’s side extended their unbeaten run to nine matches in all competitions. Forest travel to Chelsea in the Premier League on Monday before the second leg in Birmingham next Thursday.

Forest remain involved in a relegation battle, sitting five points above the Premier League drop zone. The Europa League winners qualify for next season’s Champions League, raising the possibility of Forest being relegated domestically while competing in Europe’s top club competition.

Having returned to Europe after 30 years, Forest are into their fourth semi-final but their first since the 1984 UEFA Cup. The club famously won back-to-back European Cups in 1979 and 1980. Villa were crowned European champions two years later.

Villa, currently fifth in the Premier League, are well placed to qualify for the Champions League domestically. Manager Unai Emery is a four-time Europa League winner, having lifted the trophy three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal.

Braga edge Freiburg

In the other semi-final, Braga defeated Freiburg 2-1, with substitute Mario Dorgeles scoring a stoppage-time winner in Portugal.

Earlier, Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu saved a penalty from Rodrigo Zalazar to keep the scores level at 1-1.

Braga are aiming to reach the final again after losing 1-0 to Porto in the 2011 showpiece.

The second legs take place next Thursday, with the final scheduled for May 20 in Istanbul.

Sarr fires Palace ahead

In the UEFA Conference League, Ismaïla Sarr scored inside the opening minute as Crystal Palace beat Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1 in the first leg of their semi-final.

Daichi Kamada and Jørgen Strand Larsen also scored for Palace after Oleh Ocheretko had equalised for Shakhtar.

The match was played in Kraków, Poland, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The second leg is in London next Thursday.

Rayo Vallecano beat Strasbourg 1-0 in the other semi-final on Thursday.The final is set for May 27 in Leipzig, Germany.(AP)