NOTTINGHAM FOREST found themselves playing with a man down during their FA Cup clash with Brighton after a highly unusual error.
Forest punched their ticket to Wembley after making it to the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in 34 years by beating the Seagulls 4-3 on penalties following a goalless draw.
However, Nottingham Forest found themselves in a strange situation during the second half of extra-time, just two minutes before the two teams went to a penalty shootout at the Amex Stadium.
The visitors’ manager Nuno Espirito Santo decided to introduce Morato into the fold.
The centre-back was set to replace Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White.
However, referee Peter Bankes stopped Morato entering the field despite Gibbs-White leaving the pitch.
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Play then resumed with Forest temporarily down to 10-men.
That left many confused with even the BBC commentary team left wondering what was going on, with the commentator saying: “There’s something very strange going on here”.
Gibbs-White was fuming at the referee’s decision to block Morato – so much so he was booked as he made his point from the sidelines.
It turns out Morato wasn’t allowed to enter the pitch because he still had jewellery around his neck when he was meant to come on.
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Thankfully for Forest, Morato managed to undo his necklace and the Brazilian was allowed to come on once play stopped again.
And ultimately it didn’t harm Nottingham’s chances as Ryan Yates sealed their place at Wembley with the final penalty of the shootout.
But Nuno’s men have a lot to thank goalkeeper Matz Sels for as he proved to be the hero once more as his two saves helped his team win their third FA Cup shootout of the season.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
