Leeds' Late Victory: Stach's Free-Kick Stuns Nottingham Forest
Anton Stach stunned Nottingham Forest with an 88th-minute free-kick as Leeds snatched a 1-0 win to open their Premier League campaign at the City Ground.
The German midfielder bent a low effort in at the near post from the corner of the penalty area, silencing the home crowd and sparking wild celebrations in the away end. It was Leeds’ first league victory at Forest’s ground since 1972 – and it arrived in classic smash-and-grab fashion.
Forest waste chances, Leeds punish
Oliver Glasner’s side talked up top-half ambitions before a ball was kicked. On this evidence, the story hasn’t changed much from last season.
No new signings made the starting XI, and Forest’s old problem – a blunt edge in front of goal – returned with a vengeance. They created more than enough to win the game, but Leeds walked away with the points.
After a cagey, lifeless opening, Forest finally sparked into life on 16 minutes. Ola Aina hurled in a long throw, Igor Jesus met it with a firm header, and James Trafford had to spring full length to claw it away. It woke the stadium up.
Tension rose a few minutes later when Aina flew into a challenge on James Justin. A VAR check for serious foul play followed, but the tackle stood and Forest breathed again.
The hosts thought they had their breakthrough on 25 minutes. Harry Wilson slid the ball home, only to see the flag go up. The offside call was correct, but it underlined Forest’s growing control.
The pressure built. On 40 minutes, James McAtee whipped in a superb delivery and Nikola Milenkovic glanced a header against the post. The rebound fell to Jesus, who couldn’t adjust in time and failed to convert. It felt like a warning.
One-way traffic, no end product
Forest came out after the break with the same plan: bombard the Leeds box. Aina’s crossing remained a constant threat, and Jesus again got his angles wrong, heading down and over from close range when he should have scored.
Glasner turned to Chris Wood from the bench, and the striker quickly had the chance he wanted. Murillo split the Leeds defence with a clever through ball, Wood strode clear, but dragged his shot wide. Groans around the ground told the story.
Leeds had been on the back foot for long spells, yet they carried a quiet threat from set plays and crosses of their own. Matz Sels had to fling himself across goal to tip away a powerful header from Tarik Muharemovic, a reminder that Forest’s dominance wasn’t total.
Still, most of the danger came at the other end. Milenkovic rose again and sent a looping effort towards the top corner, only for Trafford to get a touch and divert it onto the crossbar. Forest’s frustration deepened. The sense of déjà vu did too.
Stach delivers the late twist
With the game drifting towards a goalless draw that would have flattered Leeds, the visitors finally seized their moment.
An 88th-minute free-kick on the corner of the area gave Stach his chance. He didn’t go for the obvious curler to the far post. Instead, he drilled a low shot towards Sels’ near side. The Forest goalkeeper couldn’t keep it out. Leeds’ players sprinted towards their fans; Forest’s heads dropped.
For Daniel Farke and his squad, who spent last season flirting with relegation, this was the perfect start and a psychological lift ahead of Tuesday’s Carabao Cup rematch between the sides.
For Forest, it was something else: a sharp reminder that ambitions of climbing the table will mean nothing if they keep leaving their finishing boots in the dressing room.
