Nottingham Forest‘s Europa League hopes remain intact after a comical own goal helped them get out of their quarterfinal first leg at FC Porto with a 1-1 draw.

A much-changed Forest side were under the pump against the Primeira Liga leaders and fell behind to William Gomes’ early strike.

But they were gifted a leveller by hapless Porto defender Martim Fernandes, who sent a 25-yard back-pass into his own net.

Forest had a goal disallowed in the second half, but were reliant on goalkeeper Stefan Ortega making a string of important saves to ensure they head back to the City Ground for next week’s second leg on level terms.

Importantly, they were able to get the result while still being able to keep a number of their important Premier League players fresh ahead of Sunday’s vital clash with Aston Villa.

If Forest can get the job done on home soil next week, it looks highly likely as if Villa will be waiting in the semifinal after they won their first leg against Bologna.

Indeed, Villa were clearly on boss Vitor Pereira’s mind.

Forest were playing their first European quarterfinal since losing to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Cup 30 years ago, but the Portuguese made it clear what his priority is, making nine changes to the side that beat Tottenham in the Premier League before the international break.

One of them was the returning Chris Wood, who was playing his first match since mid-October following a knee injury.

And Wood had not touched the ball by the time Forest should have been behind inside 40 seconds.

Seko Fofana was sent clear down the right and he squared for Terem Moffi, whose shot was too close to Ortega, with the Forest goalkeeper then keeping out Borja Sainz’s follow-up effort.

It was little surprise when Porto took an 11th-minute lead.

A slick move down the left saw Pablo Rosario’s backheel set Gabriel Veiga free and his incisive ball across goal was slid home at the far post by William.

Forest were rattled, but they were presented with an extraordinary gift just two minutes later.

Porto were in controlled possession and right-back Fernandes passed back to his goalkeeper Diogo Costa, but did so without looking and sent the ball wide of Costa and into an empty net for a comical own goal.

That allowed Forest to get a foothold in the game and they controlled things, but almost went in at half-time trailing.

Fofana’s cross was again perfect for Moffi, but the striker headed straight at Ortega.

Forest thought they had taken the lead in the 63rd minute as Igor Jesus beat Costa to the ball and slotted home.

It looked like the Brazilian had won the challenge fairly but the goal was chalked off after a VAR check for handball.

Porto used their reprieve to good effect and came on strong.

William forced another brilliant save out of Ortega, who tipped an effort around the post, before Deniz Gül curled just wide.

Victor Froholdt then put a shot agonisingly wide as Porto pushed for the first-leg advantage.

But Pereira, who guided the Portuguese club to an invincible league title campaign in 2011/12, enjoyed a satisfactory return to his former home, with the tie to be decided in Nottingham next week.

Oliver Glasner said he could feel “something special” at Selhurst Park as Crystal Palace secured a 3-0 victory over Fiorentina in the first leg of their Conference League quarterfinal.

Jean-Philippe Mateta, making his first start since January, set Palace on their way with a first-half penalty, Tyrick Mitchell doubled the Eagles’ lead before the break, and Ismaila Sarr’s header on the stroke of fulltime ensured Palace will carry a comfortable advantage into next week’s second leg.

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It was a more comfortable and confident Palace side that emerged on Thursday night in south London, where it felt like both players and supporters were aligned on a mission to raise the bar.

“It’s a pleasure for everybody as long as the European journey lasts,” Glasner said. “Of course Fiorentina is a big name, Italian football is a big name, and so everybody expected a very tight game, whereas in the last games it felt like everybody expected a clear win.

“The circumstances were different. I think all of this created a special atmosphere today, and I think this is the special atmosphere we needed always. Playing a European competition is always something special, especially when you have it the first time in your club’s history.

“Today I could feel that there was something special, and I think it was a special atmosphere and a special performance.”

Mateta was inserted into the lineup in place of the suspended Jørgen Strand Larsen, and scored his first Palace goal since New Year’s Day when he slotted home a 24th-minute penalty.

He nearly added a second seven minutes later, but Palace still managed to double their advantage when Tyrick Mitchell recycled the rebound past David de Gea.

Sarr, who has been instrumental to Palace’s European campaign, was then teed up by a fine Daichi Kamada cross and powered a stylish header home.

Some sections of the Palace fanbase were unhappy in January, when Mateta expressed a desire to leave but was prevented a desired move to AC Milan due to a knee issue.

He was met with a mixed reception when he returned to action in mid-March, but on Thursday night was met with a warm ovation when he was subbed off late on.

“I think that’s what JP deserves,” Glasner said. “He always gives 100 percent effort to the team, 100 percent effort for Crystal Palace, and he’s got so many important goals for us.

“He had a tough period, he was six weeks he couldn’t hit the ball and train on the pitch and he was really working hard to get back.

“I’m pleased for him, I’m pleased for Crystal Palace, because he’s a great player, a great striker and we will need him.

“I think he will need to rest against Newcastle [on Sunday], but then it’s great to have Jørgen Strand Larsen back. It looks quite good right now.”

Almost all the talk about Rory McIlroy in the build-up to this year’s Masters related to the pomp.

In comparison, discussion about whether his game is there to secure a rare back-to-back Masters win felt somewhat neglected.

When last year’s winner was finally able to focus on his golf on Thursday, McIlroy reminded everyone he is not in Augusta this week simply to serve up the Champions’ Dinner.

He is here to play. And he is here to win.

The 36-year-old from Northern Ireland shares the first-round lead with American Sam Burns after carding a five-under par 67, ensuring anybody who was sleeping on his chances has been stirred.

McIlroy was among only 16 players in the 91-man field to finish under par, with conditions expected to get even firmer and faster over the next three days.

England’s Justin Rose, who was agonisingly denied his first Green Jacket by McIlroy in a nerve-jangling play-off last year, is three shots behind the leaders and alongside world number one Scottie Scheffler on two under par.

“I think winning a Masters makes it easier to win your second one,” said McIlroy, who is aiming to join Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as the only men to retain the Masters.

“It’s hard to say because there are still shots out there that you feel a little bit tight with, and you just have to stand up and commit to making a good swing and not worry about where it goes.

“But it’s easier for me to make those swings and not worry about where it goes when I know that I can go to the champions’ locker room and put on my Green Jacket.”