Nottingham Forest and Leeds met at the City Ground in the Round of 64 for the League Cup on August 25th, 2026. The visitors took all three points with a 2-0 victory, moving on after a match where they had to claw their way back from a shaky opening period. By then it was clear enough who wanted the win more.
Daniel James struck first in the 50th minute, picking up on a loose ball in the box and finishing past Matz Sels. Forest had controlled possession but their 0.86 expected goals sat well below what Leeds managed, and here's the thing — they created far fewer clear-cut opportunities. The hosts should have too much for them on paper, but paper doesn't always reflect a Tuesday night.
James Justin doubled the lead in the 75th minute, capitalising on a defensive error that cost Forest dearly. One mistake ends it when you're playing at this level, and Sean Longstaff, who had come on for Noah Okafor just eight minutes earlier, found himself exposed. To be fair, Leeds had been the more dangerous side throughout despite equal possession.
Several changes peppered the second half, with Forest bringing on Arnaud Kalimuendo, Igor Jesus, Ousmane Diomande, Ola Aina, and Ao Tanaka in quick succession. Leeds responded with substitutions from Noah Okafor, Sean Longstaff, Daniel James, and Lukas Nmecha. Neither manager could find a rhythm that shifted the balance.
Leeds recorded 2.26 expected goals against Forest's 0.86, while the hosts managed only one big chance compared to six for the visitors. Both sides shared possession equally at 50%, but shots accuracy told a different story — Forest hit three targets from six attempts while Leeds found the back of the net from five shots on target. The high line was picked apart when it mattered.
The result sends Leeds through to the next round while Forest's cup campaign comes to an end. They had lost 1-0 to Leeds earlier this month on August 22nd, and this time the margin was wider. Three yellow cards for Leeds compared to four for Forest, with Ethan Ampadu and Nicolás Domínguez among those booked. The visitors now look ahead, knowing they have nothing to lose in the rounds to come.
