Leeds Secure Late Victory Against Nottingham Forest
Anton Stach stunned the City Ground with an 88th‑minute free-kick as Leeds snatched a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest to open their Premier League campaign.
The German midfielder curled a low effort inside the near post from the corner of the penalty area, silencing the home crowd and sparking chaos in the away end. It was Leeds’ first league victory at Forest since 1972 – and it came in classic smash-and-grab fashion.
Forest waste chances, Leeds punish them
For Oliver Glasner, this felt painfully familiar. Forest talk about a top-half push, but on this evidence last season’s problems have not gone away. No new signings started, the performance was energetic enough, yet the same old issue loomed large: they could not finish.
After a flat opening, Forest should have taken control. On 16 minutes, Ola Aina’s long throw caused panic and Igor Jesus rose well, only for James Trafford to spring across his line and claw away the header. It was a sharp stop and a warning Leeds did not really heed.
The home side then survived a scare of their own. Aina’s strong tackle on James Justin went to a VAR check for serious foul play, but the defender escaped punishment. Moments later, Forest had the ball in the net. Harry Wilson finished neatly in the 25th minute, only to see the flag go up for offside – a tight call, but the right one.
That seemed to ignite Forest. They began to pin Leeds back, working the flanks and loading the box. Five minutes before the break, they came within inches. James McAtee whipped in a superb cross, Nikola Milenkovic glanced a header against the post and Jesus, alive to the rebound, failed to turn it home. The groan around the City Ground said everything.
The pattern barely changed after half-time. Aina again delivered from the right and Jesus again found space, but his header from close range bounced down and over when it looked easier to hit the target. Glasner turned to Chris Wood from the bench and the striker almost made the difference, racing through onto Murillo’s through ball before dragging his shot wide of the far post.
Forest kept knocking. Milenkovic climbed highest from another delivery and his looping effort had Trafford beaten, only for the goalkeeper to get enough of a touch to tip it onto the crossbar. The pressure built, the volume rose, but the net refused to ripple.
Leeds ride the storm and steal it late
Leeds, who themselves are trying to move away from last season’s brush with relegation, spent long spells on the back foot. Yet they carried just enough threat from set pieces and crosses to remind Forest they were still in a contest.
Tarik Muharemovic forced Matz Sels into a flying save with a powerful header as Leeds finally found some territory. It was a rare moment of attacking intent, but it hinted that Daniel Farke’s side still had something left.
The punishment arrived with two minutes of normal time remaining. Stach stood over a free-kick on the corner of the box, the angle tight but tempting. Instead of going high and curling for the far post, he whipped a skidding effort towards Sels’ near side. The Forest goalkeeper could not keep it out. Leeds’ players sprinted towards their supporters; Forest’s heads dropped.
For Glasner, the performance offered structure, territory and chances. For Farke, it offered three points and a clean sheet. Only one of those counts in the table.
The two sides meet again on Tuesday in the Carabao Cup. Forest will have to prove they can turn pressure into goals – or risk watching Leeds walk away with another result.
