Nottingham Forest secured a valuable point in their pursuit of European qualification with a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, thanks to a decisive second-half equalizer from defender Murillo. The result keeps Forest firmly in the hunt for a top-five Premier League finish as the season enters its final stretch.

In a match filled with intensity but limited clear-cut chances, it was Crystal Palace who broke the deadlock on the hour mark. Eberechi Eze continued his strong run of form, calmly converting a penalty after VAR ruled that Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels had brought down Tyrick Mitchell in the box. The opener added urgency to Forest’s game, with manager Nuno Espírito Santo urging his side to respond quickly.

Respond they did. Just four minutes later, a shot from Neco Williams took a deflection off Murillo and sailed past Palace keeper Dean Henderson. Though not a textbook finish, the goal was credited to Murillo—his first for the club—and came at a crucial time, restoring parity and shifting the momentum back in Forest's favor.

Both sides pushed for a winner in the closing stages. Eze nearly grabbed his second of the evening with a curling strike that rattled the crossbar, while substitute Eddie Nketiah thought he had scored the winner for Palace, only to see his effort ruled out for offside.

The result means Nottingham Forest remain sixth in the Premier League table, just two points behind fifth-placed Chelsea with three games left to play. With crucial fixtures remaining against Leicester City, West Ham United, and Chelsea themselves, Forest’s European dream is still very much alive.

Manager Nuno Espírito Santo praised his players’ response to going behind and highlighted the importance of resilience at this critical stage of the season. “We showed determination to come back into the game,” he said post-match. “Every point is crucial, and we’ll continue to fight for our place in Europe.”

As the Premier League season nears its conclusion, every goal and every point will count—and Murillo’s timely intervention may prove to be a turning point in Nottingham Forest’s European quest.

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