Chelsea Boosts European Hopes With Late Goals Against Nottingham Forest

Chelsea emerged victorious against a spirited Forest side at the City Ground. The City Ground was filled with a celebratory atmosphere as defeat for Luton Town and Burnley in the three o’clock kick-offs virtually secured Forest’s safety in the league.

The game began with Djordje Petrovic making a crucial save to deny Chris Wood’s lob, setting the tone for a lively start. However, it was Chelsea who struck first, as Mykhailo Mudryk expertly finished a pass from Cole Palmer to give the Blues an early lead.

Forest quickly responded through Boly, whose header found the back of the net after a deflection off Conor Gallagher. The match continued to flow, with chances at both ends. Sels made key saves to deny Chelsea, while Ryan Yates and Gibbs-White came close to scoring for Forest.

Conor Gallagher had a scare when he brought down Hudson-Odoi, but was saved from a red card due to cover provided by Marc Cucurella. Chelsea dominated possession in the first half but struggled to create clear-cut chances, managing only five shots on goal compared to Forest’s ten.

At the 75-minute, Hudson-Odoi displayed his unstoppable form by curling a beautiful shot into the side netting, giving Forest a well-deserved lead that few could dispute. However, the momentum quickly shifted as substitute Sterling unleashed a similar strike that left Sels with no opportunity to make a save. Chelsea fans erupted in excitement when Jackson’s header reclaimed the lead for the Blues just minutes later.

The win sees Chelsea level on points with sixth-placed Newcastle and three points clear of Manchester United, boosting their European qualification hopes.

On the other hand, Forest’s valiant effort was not enough to secure a result, but they remain three points above relegation-threatened Luton with one game left. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side can now look forward to top-flight football next season, while Chelsea’s victory sets the stage for an exciting end to the season with European slots up for grabs.