Nottingham Forest need penalties to reach playoff final

Nottingham Forest are one game away from returning to the Premier League for the first time since 1999 after edging out Sheffield United on penalties in a dramatic Championship playoff semi-final. Forest led 2-1 from the first leg and looked set for Wembley when Brennan Johnson blasted into the top corner on 19 minutes.Klopp changed nine starters, but the outcome is the same: Liverpool win to set up final day thrillerHowever, the Blades fought back after the break as goals from Morgan Gibbs-White and John Fleck sent the tie to extra-time. The visitors were only denied a remarkable fightback by a brilliant save from Brice Samba five minutes from time as he spread himself to block Iliman Ndiaye’s effort. And Samba was the Forest hero in the shootout as he saved from Oliver Norwood, Conor Hourihane and Gibbs-White.Rangers and Frankfurt roll back the years for retro Europa League finalJohnson, Cafu and Steve Cook scored from the spot for Steve Cooper’s men to continue an incredible turnaround in fortunes at the City Ground. Forest were bottom of the table when Chris Hughton was sacked in September. They narrowly missed out on automatic promotion behind Fulham and Bournemouth, but will have another shot in the richest game in world football when they face Huddersfield at Wembley on May 29.”It was a really difficult night to swallow”: The Gunners will miss the UCL for the sixth season in a rowJordan Rhodes’ solitary late strike took Huddersfield to within one game of a return to the Premier League as the Terriers beat Luton 1-0 on Monday to secure a 2-1 aggregate win. Rhodes stole in at the far post eight minutes from time to take his side to Wembley for a meeting against Nottingham Forest in the Championship playoff final. Defeat ends Luton’s dream to vault from the fifth-tier National League to the richest league in the world in eight years. The visitors were the better side for long periods on the night after being held 1-1 at Kenilworth Road in Friday’s first leg. But Huddersfield goalkeeper Lee Nicholls made several telling saves and Rhodes’ goal-poaching instincts proved the difference when the former Scotland international turned in Sorba Thomas’ free-kick.© Agence France-Presse

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