Porto 1, Nottingham Forest 1: Reds Rescue a Draw with Hilarious Own Goal Amidst European Powerhouse Pressure

MARTIM FERNANDES scored one of the finest long-range goals in Forest’s European history to keep alive their hopes of the last four.

The fact Fernandes is Porto’s right-back did not bother the 2,678 fans who made their way from the east midlands and are still dreaming of a first final abroad for 46 years.

Nottingham Forest now know that a win of any kind will be enough in next week’s return legCredit: Getty

Fernandes’ 40-yard strike, with home keeper Diogo Costa not even in his area, was absolutely comical, and it came just a couple of minutes after William Gomes put Porto ahead.

At that point, trailing 1-0 after 11 minutes, Forest looked set for an extremely tough night.

So Forest manager Vitor Pereira, on his return to the club where he spent eight years, will be delighted with the way his mix-and-match team held firm, particularly at the end when they were under some pressure

So these teams will meet again for a third time at the City Ground next Thursday – Forest won 2-0 in the group stage in October – and Pereira’s team look in decent shape to set up a potential all-English Europa League semi-final with Aston Villa.

Yet Forest’s latest manager of this slightly bonkers season is clearly prioritising survival.

Defender Murillo and Morgan Gibbs-White are probably the only starters here in northern Portugal who will line up against Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.

The Europa final is on May 20, four days before the end of the Premier League season, and it would be some end to the campaign if Forest end up in Istanbul having secured safety in the top-flight.

There is a long way to go, obviously. Forest had to belt up and endure a torrid start as Porto could have been out of sight in the opening period.

Visiting keeper Stefan Ortega prevented a disaster within 45 seconds by delivering a double save from Terem Moffi and Borja Sainz.

Former Norwich winger Sainz, in last year’s PFA Championship team of the season despite being hit with a six-game ban for spitting, then wasted another good chance but fired a tame effort straight at Ortega.

Forest escaped conceding a penalty, following a VAR check, even though Murillo repeatedly grabbed Moffi’s shirt although the wrestling started outside the area. The Forest centre-back was still fortunate, though.

Yet Porto were rewarded for their fast-paced start with unmarked Gomes scoring at the far post from Gabri Veiga’s inviting pass across the face of the goal.

While this opener was not exactly a surprise, the next was utterly extraordinary.

Fernandes was under no pressure when he passed the ball back to Costa but the problem was that the Porto keeper was somewhere else.

Fernandes looked in utter disbelief as the ball rolled over the line.

Grateful for this huge dollop of fortune, Forest capitalised and played with more confidence despite still not creating much.

At half-time, Pereira replaced Nikola Milenkovic for Murillo while fit-again Chris Wood, having made his first start for six months after a knee issue, made way for Brazilian striker Igor Jesus who added some more energy to the attack.

Jesus, joint top scorer in the Europa League with seven goals, thought he had got an eighth but VAR ruled that he handled the ball with keeper Costa then pretending to be injured.

Ortega delivered a brilliant save, low to his right, to keep out a drive from Gomes while Victor Froholdt dragged a shot wide.

So, this was a decent result. And it looks as though Forest’s European tour could continue, even though the next trip could be to Birmingham.