Nottingham Forest reignited their European dreams with a crucial 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, powered by a blistering early start and a decisive goal from Chris Wood. The win lifts Forest to third place in the Premier League table, marking a remarkable turnaround after a tough stretch of form and placing them firmly in the race for Champions League qualification.

Forest made their intentions clear from the opening minutes. Elliot Anderson struck first, capitalizing on a poorly cleared corner to fire a deflected shot past Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario in the fifth minute. Forest’s aggressive start rattled Spurs, and they nearly doubled their advantage moments later when Wood found the net, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. However, Wood would not be denied for long. In the 16th minute, the New Zealand striker rose highest to meet Anthony Elanga’s cross, powering home a header for his 19th league goal of the season.

Despite Forest scoring twice from only four total shots, Tottenham dominated possession and peppered the Forest goal with 22 efforts. However, a resilient defensive performance from Forest marshaled by Murillo and Matz Sels in goal kept Spurs at bay for much of the match. Richarlison eventually pulled one back for the hosts with a header in the 87th minute, but it proved too late to change the outcome.

The match also saw a bizarre interruption when a fire alarm at the Premier League’s VAR hub temporarily suspended video assistance, just after Wood’s first goal was disallowed. VAR services were restored in the second half, but the incident added an extra layer of chaos to an already intense contest.

Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo praised his side’s composure and resilience, acknowledging the unexpected position they now find themselves in. "We’ve worked hard to get here. To be fighting for a Champions League spot was not something many expected, but the players believe," he said. With an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City looming, Forest’s season has transformed into one filled with possibility.

For Tottenham, it was another frustrating evening as they lost further ground in their own battle for European qualification. Forest, meanwhile, celebrated not only a rare league double over Spurs their first since 1997 but also the belief that a place among Europe's elite could genuinely be within reach.