News, Sport

Nottingham Forest B team win major international competition

By Callum Wright

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Nottingham Forest’s B Team have lifted silverware after claiming victory in the Premier League International Cup.

The Reds defeated French side Lyon 5-4 on penalties after the teams couldn’t be separated, with the match ending 0-0 after 120 minutes.

It marked the first time Forest have won the major international competition, as they lifted the trophy under the lights of the City Ground on Tuesday, May 8.

Consisting of 16 teams from the English football system and 16 invitee teams from other European countries, the competition consists of solely under-21 teams and sees all matches played in England.

European giants like Ajax, Monaco and Athletic Club were defeated by the Reds on the path to the final, before eventually besting Lyon in a dramatic yet goalless final.

Notable Forest players on the pitch included Zach Abbott, who most recently started for the first team at Wembley in a 0-2 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final.

THE WINNING PENALTY! 😍 pic.twitter.com/ywHRJUTxi8

— Nottingham Forest Academy (@NFFCAcademy) May 7, 2025

Other Reds included Joe Gardener, who had shortly before returned from a loan spell at Lincoln City, Northampton Town loanee Ben Perry and captain Kyle McAdam.

Perhaps the hero of the game was goalkeeper George Murray-Jones, who kept Forest in the game early on with some big saves before saving two spot kicks in the shootout.

Abbott then stepped up to convert the winning penalty in front of the Bridgford Stand to send Forest to international glory.

The victory marks another milestone in the u-21’s progress under head coach Warren Joyce, who has seen seven players make first team debuts and four play on the international stage during his tenure.

Also part of the U-21 coaching line-up is legendary Forest forward Lewis Grabban, who has won a trophy on his first season in coaching after retiring from his playing career in 2022.

Speaking to ForestTV before the big game, Joyce said: “We’ve got to look at ourselves and try and be the best version of us with the ball and the best version of us when we’re pressing and getting at them [Lyon] when they’ve got the ball.”

“I’d like to think as families as well as the boys they’ve [Forest] had some good experiences over three or four years now, it’s maybe coming to an end of the cycle so it would be fantastic to end it with a win.”

Talking about what it would mean to win silverware, defender Ben Hammond said to ForestTV: “We’ve been together a long time, most of us have been here since like the age of eight, so having that tight bond with the lads, it probably means the extra little bit than normal.”