After an absence of 23 years, Nottingham Forest returned to the English Premier League after beating Huddersfield Town 1-0 in the final of the promotion playoff on Sunday.
The game's only goal came in the 43rd minute when Huddersfield defender Levi Colwell failed to clear a powerful cross from James Garner and accidentally scored in his own net.
Former European champions Forrest were relegated from the top flight in 1999, but will join second-tier champions Fulham and second-placed Bournemouth to the Premier League.
Watch the joy of Nottingham Forest players and fans by qualifying for the English Premier League after an absence of 23 years #English_League #EFL |
#Championship |
#EPL pic.twitter.com/NVR7jYFKvC
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) May 29, 2022
Coach Steve Cooper's team dominated the game in the first half, then defended its lead forcefully, while Huddersfield almost failed to threaten the goal.
"I'm so proud of the players, the coaching staff and the fans," Forrest defender Joe Worl said. "We've been fantastic all season, and we were unlucky not to qualify directly."
Forrest was crowned champion of England in 1978 under the leadership of Brian Clough, then won the European Cup in 1979 and 1980.
The promotion match that qualified Nottingham Forest - according to British reports - is the most expensive match in football, with a financial value of 170 million pounds (about 215 million dollars).
No team in the world, including the Champions League champions or even the World Cup champions, ever gets that huge.
And this amount that Forest will receive is almost twice what Real Madrid will receive, the Champions League.