Callum Hudson-Odoi’s late strike sent the City Ground into raptures as Nottingham Forest secured a crucial victory over fellow Champions League hopefuls Manchester City.

The winger struck in the 83rd minute to seal all three points for Forest, who had endured a three-match winless run in the league. Pep Guardiola’s side, aiming for a fourth consecutive top-flight win against Forest and an opportunity to leapfrog their opponents into third place, came closest in the first half when Nico González rattled the post from distance.

City increased the pressure after the break, with substitute Kevin De Bruyne narrowly missing the target with under 20 minutes remaining. However, their lack of clinical finishing proved costly, as Hudson-Odoi produced a moment of individual brilliance to beat Ederson at his near post and send the home crowd into celebration.

Match Summary

Forest were on the verge of extending their disappointing run before Hudson-Odoi’s late intervention turned the tide. Morgan Gibbs-White delivered an exquisite lofted pass to the former Chelsea winger on the right flank. As City defenders scrambled back, Hudson-Odoi cut inside against Joško Gvardiol before unleashing a thunderous strike past Ederson at the near post.

The 24-year-old had already come close to opening the scoring in the 67th minute with another impressive solo effort. After controlling the ball on the left, he cut inside and curled a sweeping shot towards the bottom right corner. While the attempt lacked precision, forcing Ederson into an excellent fingertip save that deflected onto the post, it served as a warning of what was to come.

Earlier, in the 14th minute, City’s £50 million January signing from Porto, Nico González, struck the woodwork with a powerful 25-yard drive, prompting a collective sigh of relief among the Forest faithful.

Just seven minutes prior, Erling Haaland dispossessed Chris Wood and drove a low, right-footed shot across goal. With Matt Sels beaten, the Norwegian striker’s effort narrowly missed the far post—City’s first significant chance of the match.

Guardiola’s side maintained control as half-time approached, with Phil Foden finding space down the left before cutting the ball back for Bernardo Silva, only for the Portuguese midfielder to blaze his effort high over the crossbar.

A captivating duel unfolded between Ola Aina and Jeremy Doku throughout the first half, with the Belgian winger managing to outmanoeuvre Aina and Nicolás Domínguez in the 42nd minute. However, his final attempt proved routine for Sels in the Forest goal.

City’s substitutes Mateo Kovačić and De Bruyne nearly made an instant impact in the 72nd minute. Kovačić’s attempted pass deflected off Forest defender Murillo, inadvertently setting up De Bruyne on the edge of the box. Surrounded by red shirts, the Belgian struck a left-footed shot that narrowly cleared the crossbar.

Despite a lack of clear-cut opportunities in the opening 45 minutes, Domínguez showcased his midfield dominance—winning the most duels, completing all of his attempted passes, and recording the highest number of tackles. He tested Ederson early in the second half, connecting with an Anthony Elanga cross from the left with a well-struck side-footed volley, only for the Brazilian goalkeeper to react swiftly and deny him.

In the end, it was Hudson-Odoi’s decisive moment of brilliance that sealed a statement victory for Forest, strengthening their European ambitions and leaving City frustrated in their pursuit of a top-four finish.