FC Porto was forced to settle for a frustrating 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest at the Estádio do Dragão on Thursday night. In the first leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final, the Portuguese giants dominated much of the proceedings but were unable to secure a vital home victory.

The result leaves the tie finely balanced as both teams prepare for the return leg in England next week.

The match began with high intensity from the hosts, and it didn’t take long for them to break the deadlock. In the 11th minute, Zaidu Sanusi played a key role in the buildup, helping to shift the play wide before Gabri Veiga delivered a pinpoint cross. William Gomes was on hand to tap the ball home at the far post, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and giving Porto a deserved early lead.

However, Porto’s celebrations were short-lived due to a momentary lapse in concentration just two minutes later. A defensive mix-up led to a bizarre own goal by Martim Fernandes, whose overhit backpass beat goalkeeper Diogo Costa and trickled into the net.

This unexpected equalizer shifted the momentum, allowing Nottingham Forest to retreat into a compact defensive shape that Porto struggled to break down for the remainder of the evening.

Throughout the second half, Porto pushed aggressively for a winner, registering 16 shots and controlling the lion’s share of possession. Nigerian international, Zaidu Sanusi was a constant presence on the left flank, contributing to several attacking waves. Despite their statistical dominance, they found Forest goalkeeper Stefan Ortega in inspired form, as he produced seven crucial saves to keep the Premier League side level.

The 1-1 final score serves as a resilient result for Nottingham Forest, who now head back to the City Ground with a slight psychological advantage. For Porto and Sanusi, the mission is clear: they must find a way to clinicalize their dominance in the second leg if they are to advance to the semi-finals of the competition.