Swansea’s Stoppage-Time Comeback Stuns Nottingham Forest
What a dramatic night it was in the Carabao Cup as Swansea pulled off one of the most thrilling turnarounds of the season, sending Premier League side Nottingham Forest crashing out of the competition. For long stretches of the game, it looked as though Ange Postecoglou’s Forest would cruise into the next round, but football had other plans.
The evening started brightly for Forest. Their new striker Igor Jesus made an immediate impact by scoring twice in the first half. His first was a composed finish, and his second – a tap-in after a slick move – seemed to settle any nerves. At half-time, with a two-goal cushion, Forest fans were already anticipating Postecoglou’s first victory in charge and a comfortable passage into the last sixteen.
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But if there’s one thing Swansea have always been known for, it’s resilience. As the second half unfolded, the Championship side refused to give in. Cameron Burgess, their captain, rose highest to meet a corner and powered home a header, halving the deficit and giving the home crowd hope. Still, with time slipping away, Forest looked the likelier to score again, especially as their substitutes – including Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi – began to stretch the Swansea defence.
Then came the chaos. Deep into stoppage time, Slovenian forward Zan Vipotnik snatched the equaliser. A low cross from Liam Cullen found him at the near post, and he made no mistake, sliding the ball home. The Swansea.com Stadium erupted, and suddenly belief was everywhere. Forest were rattled, and just moments later the unthinkable happened. A long-range shot from Ethan Galbraith struck the post, and Burgess was there again to thunder in the rebound for his second of the night. With that, Swansea had turned a 2–0 defeat into a breathtaking 3–2 victory, leaving Forest stunned and the home fans in delirium.
After the match, Postecoglou admitted his side had grown “too comfortable.” He suggested that some players felt the game was already won, and in that lapse of concentration, the tie slipped away. It was a painful lesson, especially for a manager who had promised to instill his attacking identity at Forest. Conceding three goals for the second consecutive match is not the foundation he hoped to build upon.
For Swansea, however, the win was celebrated as a statement. Not only did they knock out a Premier League side, but they also showed grit, belief, and an ability to punish lapses at the very highest level. For Burgess, the hero of the night, it was a captain’s performance that will be remembered for years.
So, what seemed like a routine night for Nottingham Forest turned into a footballing rollercoaster, reminding us once again why this sport is so captivating. A place in the last sixteen now belongs to Swansea, and Forest are left to reflect on what could—and should—have been.
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