Nottingham Forest progressed to the quarter-finals of the Emirates FA Cup courtesy of a 5-4 penalty shootout victory over Ipswich Town.
Matz Sels was the hero for the hosts, diving to his left to deny Jack Taylor after the first nine penalties were all scored, sending Forest through to the last eight for the first time since 2022.
Penalties were required after the scores were level at 1-1 following 120 minutes of absorbing action at the City Ground.
George Hirst nodded Ipswich in front nine minutes after half time, before Ryan Yates responded 15 minutes later with a header of his own in a second half that exploded into life following a first 45 minutes of few chances.
Both sides pushed hard for a winner but neither found a way through, and Sels stepped up to make the crucial save for the home side to send them through.
Forest started the brighter but it was Ipswich who forced the first save, when Nathan Broadhead’s header was straight at Sels.
The hosts then almost found a way through after ten minutes when Ibrahima Sangare connected with Anthony Elanga’s corner, but his header was just wide of the post.
Elanga was then involved again, as the Swedish winger cut inside from the left and curled a shot high and wide after Taiwo Awoniyi was played in behind the Ipswich defence.
Ipswich pushed their way into the contest but were unable to trouble Sels, while Danilo forced Luke Wolfenden into a strong block to prevent his rasping drive from finding the net.
HIRST AT THE BACK POST! 😲
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 3, 2025
The @IpswichTown forward is left completely unmarked and nods in to break the deadlock 🔓#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/ObTa9LH17N
Elanga was the first to force a save from Alex Palmer, with the winger hitting the target from the edge of box which was well saved by the Ipswich stopper. Palmer was in action again quickly after to deny Danilo, with the Brazilian’s shot from range easily held.
Both goalkeepers were becoming increasingly busy after the break, with Sels forced into an impressive diving save to tip Sam Morsy’s long-range effort behind.
From the resulting corner, Hirst nodded home at the back post to put the visitors ahead just nine minutes after the restart.
Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo turned to his bench on the hour mark, bringing on both Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson in a bid to find an equaliser and they were rewarded just eight minutes later.
Elanga was again involved, this time he cut inside and crossed to find Yates who headed home from close range.
Who else but Mr. @NFFC? 🌳
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Ryan Yates delivers a big moment for Forest 🔴#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/PRNRGQUqVV
Ipswich then went close to going back in front, but Hirst’s header was wide after meeting Taylor’s cross.
Forest looked to ramp up the pressure after getting level, and Anderson tried his luck from range but his effort was narrowly wide.
Yates almost thought he had put Forest ahead with just 15 minutes remaining when he headed past Palmer, but this time the midfielder had strayed offside.
Palmer was then called into action again to deny Murillo’s effort from range that was arrowing into the top corner, before Callum Hudson-Odoi’s curling effort clipped the woodwork.
Ipswich then had a chance to win it with five minutes remaining, but Jack Clarke poked his effort wide from inside the box.
With nothing to separate the sides, the tie headed into extra time and it was Ipswich who began the first period on top.
Matz Sels is the shootout hero!
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 3, 2025
Just look at what it means to @NFFC 🤩#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/npKvLlDjyq
Morsy did well to beat his man before putting his shot wide before Conor Townsend curled a free-kick straight at Sels after Liam Delap was fouled on the edge of the box.
Forest substitute Chris Wood then had his first sight of goal with a header that was comfortably taken by Palmer, before Hudson-Odoi fired wide of the post after cutting in off the left wing.
The second half of extra time yielded little in the way of chances as both sides began to tire, Forest substitute Jota Silva came close with a snapshot from just inside the box that trickled wide of the post.
The extra 30 minutes was unable to produce a winner, leaving the contest to be decided by a penalty shootout.
The first eight penalties were emphatically scored to send the shoot-out into sudden death and Sels produced the decisive save to deny Taylor with Ipswich's fifth penalty after Hudson-Odoi converted for Forest.
Forest will now travel to face Brighton & Hove Albion in the quarter-final.
