Nottingham Forest beat Sheffield United on penalties to set up a Championship play-off final meeting with Huddersfield Town despite losing a drama-packed semi-final second leg at the City Ground.
Brice Samba produced goalkeeping heroics for the hosts at the end of a pulsating tie, saving spot kicks from Oli Norwood, Conor Hourihane and Morgan Gibbs-White.
Thousands of joyous Forest fans spilled onto the pitch when Samba saved Gibbs-White’s weak penalty after the two legs finished 3-3 on aggregate.
Brennan Johnson had added to Forest’s 2-1 aggregate lead from the first leg with a sliding first-half finish, but second-half goals from Gibbs-White and John Fleck sent the game to extra time.
It took a fine reflex save from Samba to keep Iliman Ndiaye out in the 115th minute and force the game to a shootout.
The Congolese goalkeeper immediately gave Forest the advantage by saving United’s first two attempts.
Johnson, Cafu and Steve Cook scored their efforts for Forest before Joe Lolley sent his over the bar, which set Samba up to make the save from Gibbs-White that sent Forest to Wembley for the first time in 30 years.
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