FC Midtjylland 1-2 Nottingham Forest (2-2 agg) Forest through to first European quarter-final in 30 years after penalties win

Nottingham Forest have reached a European quarter-final for the first time in 30 years after overturning a 1-0 deficit against FC Midtjylland in Denmark before winning 3-0 on penalties.

The visitors were rewarded for a strong start at the MCH Arena and went ahead through Nicholas Dominguez’s header before Ryan Yates’ stunning second-half strike saw Vitor Pereira’s men take control of the tie.

But with 20 minutes left, Martin Erlic pulled one back for the hosts after some pinball football inside the box, smashing home to make it 2-1 to Forest on the night and 2-2 on aggregate.

Extra-time couldn’t separate the two sides, but penalties could, as Morgan Gibbs-White, Ibrahim Sangare and Nico Williams buried their three penalties while Midtjylland's takers missed all three of theirs, sending Forest into the last eight.

It was a deserved victory for the visitors, who made a much stronger start on the night, with Yates hitting the bar and Lorenzo Lucca missing with only the goalkeeper to beat in a first half that frustrated a noisy home crowd.

And with a disappointed Midtjylland manager Mike Tullberg gearing a first-half set of substitutions, Forest took the lead as Dominguez craning header beat Elias Olafsson in the Midjylland goal.

After the break, it was captain Yates who doubled the visitors’ lead with a thunderous drive that gave his side the advantage at 2-0, sending the away fans wild.

Midtjylland looked bereft of ideas, but a hopeful ball into the box made its way to the feet of Martin Erlic from eight yards out, who buried a powerful finish beyond Stefan Ortega, his side’s first shot on target.

With the sides inseparable inside 90 minutes, extra-time was required, and Midtjylland substitute Cho Gue-Sung almost won it in the first half only to be denied by a diving Ortega.

The match needed penalties, but only six of them, as Midtjylland missed all three and Forest scored theirs, sending the away fans wild and Forest into the quarter-finals.

"We are very happy," Forest boss Vitor Pereira tells TNT Sports. "The boys deserve it, they are a fantastic group."

"We proved here today that we came here to compete, that we have good players, talented players, and the first half in my opinion was fantastic.

The energy and spirit is "different when we win," he adds- "I don't have any doubt that we have the quality. We will compete for our targets."

Pereira went on to say that he made substitutions "not because we were playing in a bad way, we were playing in a fantastic way, but to balance the energy."

"I have the chance to balance the energy of the players and prepare for the next game."

Forest play relegation rivals Tottenham on the weekend.

"I'm just buzzing we're through," Yates tells TNT Sports after the match. "Penalties are always nervy, always tough, but the lads stepped up."

On the European dream, he says "It's not over yet, we're still dreaming."

And on his barnstorming goal: "I've not watched it back," he says.

"It's a horrible way to finish the tie," Joe Hart said on co-comms after Chilufya's slip. "But Forest have been excellent tonight, absolutely brilliant. They fully deserve the victory. It's been an epic battle over two legs. They can be really, really pleased with their work.

"And they stepped up at the crucial moments with three excellent spot-kicks. What a night of football!"

Forest overturn the deficit and they deserve it after a brilliant performance. After all the drama it only took three pens!

The dream continues in Europe!

30 YEARS ON AND FOREST ARE BACK IN A EUROPEAN QUARTER-FINAL!

On the verge...

Ortega goes the right way this time but Simsir hits the post anyway! Huge chance for Forest now.

Advantage Forest!

Shirt over his head! Ortega goes the wrong way but Cho hits the post.

Forest up first...

Yates is covered in mud. Forest have given it everything. Penalties, let's go!

"I think he's just gone early," says Hart on the Yates offside. "What a header! He gets in a brilliant position. He just leaned didn't he? He can't believe it. You just see Ryan Yates' left shoulder there, just as he readjusts and plants it in the top corner.

Offside confirmed by VAR and the home crowd breathe a deep sigh of relief. Surely that's that.

Forest think they've won it as Yates buries a header. But the linesman has his flag up! Looks like a great call on the replay but VAR will have a look.

Elliot Anderson has been in the thick of everything," Joe Hart says on co-comms. "I love his attitude. He just gets up, gets on with it. He's involved in every battle. He's been rumbling with them all. He keeps his head, top player.

"If you are a Nottingham Forest fan wondering where you players' heads are at in this difficult part of the season, they re absolutely on it. They have been excellent toight.

Penalties loom...

They must be tired and battered and bruised out there. Plenty of knocks to the ground here with lots of players feeling 100 minutes plus of football.

The home fans, however, are jumping around as if it's the first five minutes. Can they keep it up?