Leeds Triumph Over Nottingham Forest with Last-Minute Free-Kick
Anton Stach stunned Nottingham Forest with an 88th-minute free-kick as Leeds snatched a 1-0 win to open their Premier League campaign at the City Ground.
The German midfielder curled a low effort inside Matz Sels’ near post from the corner of the penalty area, silencing the home crowd and sending the travelling Leeds fans into chaos. It was Leeds’ first league victory at Forest’s ground since 1972 – and it arrived in the most classic smash-and-grab fashion.
Forest waste chances, Leeds punish
Oliver Glasner has spoken of pushing Forest into the top half this season, but this felt painfully familiar. No new signings made the starting XI, the performance carried echoes of last year’s wastefulness, and the missed chances piled up.
The game crawled through a flat opening spell before bursting into life on 16 minutes. Ola Aina launched a long throw, Igor Jesus climbed highest and powered a header towards goal, only for James Trafford to spring across his line and claw it away.
Forest then survived a major scare at the other end. Aina flew into a challenge on James Justin, and the stadium held its breath while VAR checked for serious foul play. The tackle stood, the home fans roared, and Forest seemed to feed off the reprieve.
They thought they had the lead shortly after. Harry Wilson tucked the ball home in the 25th minute, only to see the flag go up and the goal correctly ruled out for offside.
That near miss didn’t slow Forest. They tightened their grip and should have gone ahead five minutes before the break. James McAtee whipped in a superb delivery, Nikola Milenkovic met it with a glancing header and watched it crash against the post. The rebound fell to Jesus, but he couldn’t adjust his feet quickly enough and the chance vanished.
One-way traffic, one ruthless moment
Leeds, still trying to shake off the nerves of last season’s brush with relegation, struggled to impose themselves for long stretches. Forest’s pressure resumed straight after half-time, and again Jesus let them down in front of goal. Aina swung in another dangerous cross, Jesus met it from close range – and headed the ball down and over when it begged to be buried.
Glasner turned to the bench and sent on Chris Wood, who almost made the impact Forest needed. Murillo threaded a precise through ball, Wood broke clear, but the New Zealand striker dragged his shot wide of the far post. Another chance gone. Another groan around the City Ground.
Leeds finally reminded Forest they were still in the game with a rare, sharp attack. A teasing delivery into the area found Tarik Muharemovic, whose firm header forced Sels into a flying save. It was a warning that Forest had failed to heed.
The hosts kept swinging crosses into the box and continued to hit the frame of the goal instead of the net. Milenkovic rose again, his looping effort this time forcing Trafford into a fingertip touch that diverted the ball onto the crossbar. The pattern felt set: Forest pressing, Forest misfiring.
Then the punishment arrived.
With two minutes of normal time left, Leeds won a free-kick on the corner of the penalty area. Stach stood over it, shaped his body, and drilled a low strike towards the near post. Sels couldn’t keep it out. Leeds’ bench exploded, their supporters behind the goal erupted, and Forest’s players slumped.
Leeds walk away with three points, a clean sheet, and a psychological edge before the sides meet again in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup tie. Forest are left with the same old question: how long can a team with top-half ambitions keep wasting nights like this?
