Super Eagles right back Ola Aina featured for Nottingham Forest as they suffered a narrow 1 0 defeat away to Braga on Matchday 7 of the Europa League.
The first real chance of the game arrived in the 37th minute when Forest were almost caught out at the back. Savona switched off at the far post, allowing Martinez to dart in front of him, but the forward could only glance his header wide.
Forest were handed a golden opportunity to take the lead early in the second half. In the 50th minute, Martinez was penalised for pulling down McAtee in the box after a dangerous inswinging cross from Gibbs White. Following a lengthy VAR check, the referee confirmed the penalty. Gibbs White stepped up but took too long to decide, attempting to guide the ball into the bottom right corner. His effort lacked accuracy and Braga goalkeeper Hornicek got down well to save.
The hosts made Forest pay moments later. In the 54th minute, Braga went straight up the other end, Milenkovic lost a soft challenge in the area, and a low cross across the six yard box deflected off the shins of Ryan Yates and into his own net. It was a disastrous spell for Forest, who suddenly found themselves behind.
Forest nearly hit back in the 62nd minute from a quickly taken free kick near the left touchline. Ola Aina unleashed a powerful strike from around 40 yards that thundered off the crossbar, coming agonisingly close to an equaliser. That proved to be Aina’s last major contribution, as he was replaced by Neco Williams in the 69th minute.
In his time on the pitch, Aina recorded one interception, one recovery, won two of six ground duels and completed 19 of his 24 passes.
Forest pushed for a response late on. In the 77th minute, a Braga attack broke down and Anderson sent a long ball forward for Gibbs White. Substitute Dominguez kept the move alive and Gibbs White fired a low shot through a crowd of legs, but it went straight at the goalkeeper.
The defeat means Nottingham Forest have now won only one of their last eight matches in all competitions. Playing in European competition for the first time in 30 years, Forest sit 15th in the 36 team standings and are three points adrift of the automatic last 16 qualification places, knowing they cannot afford further slip ups in their remaining fixtures.
For Braga, the victory sealed a top eight finish as they climbed to fifth place with 16 points. The Portuguese side had previously beaten English teams only six times in 20 meetings, with their last such win coming against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 2019 20 Europa League group stage.
