Igor Jesus Fires a Brace as Nottingham Forest Conclude European Campaign with Victory over Hungarian Opponents
Match Summary
- The home side were previously qualified to the knockout round.
- Bence Otvos deflection gives hosts a first-half lead.
- The striker's fifth goal in Europe puts the team in command.
- Forward nets again with a sharp finish in the second half.
- James McAtee rounds off a great display with a spot-kick.
The Brazilian attacker scored twice as Nottingham Forest rounded off the league phase of the European competition with a convincing triumph against Ferencvaros at the City Ground.
Forest had already secured a place in the next qualifying round and entered this game with a slim possibility of making the league's elite, even though they needed other matches to fall in their favor.
That did not happen but this assured display will give the supporters belief that their side can come through the home-and-away tie to reach the last 16.
Kristoffer Zachariassen did hit the upright with a header inside the first 10 minutes for the away team – coached by former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane – but it was all Forest from then on.
Forest broke the deadlock in the early stages when a delivery from midfield was turned into his own net by Bence Otvos and doubled the lead four minutes later – the striker firing an effort in at the far post for his tenth strike of the campaign.
Jesus' eleventh goal arrived early in the second half when he made a perfectly-timed run to escape the backline and then place a shot beyond the goalkeeper.
That goal killed off the visitors' aspirations of mounting a recovery and instead the hosts scored again when the excellent James McAtee scored from a penalty after a infringement by the hapless Bence Otvos inside the box on Dan Ndoye.
The Europa League qualifying round draw is scheduled on Friday, 30 January (midday UK time), where Nottingham Forest could be drawn against either Fenerbahce or Panathinaikos.
"It's more than the scoreline, there was that atmosphere about it. I want these players to do well as a unit, the whole squad," said Forest boss Sean Dyche.
"This is another stride forward, but it is a good one."
Forest Analysis: Jesus Catches Eye as Recent Arrival Observes from Stands
Jesus has been a standout performer for Nottingham Forest in Europe this term with six of his eleven strikes coming in the Europa League.
This double also means he has scored a trio of strikes in his previous two outings and the prospect of competition for his position in the forward line could be spurring him on.
Napoli striker Lorenzo Lucca was recently signed on loan and he was observing this match from the stands.
That may well have been on Jesus' mind as he was outstanding against the opposition, producing two excellent goals and generally being a menace to the visitors' defence with his speed and runs.
The forward was not the only one in catching the eye, with McAtee turning in his finest display in a Nottingham Forest shirt since joining from the champions last summer, while the Swiss international also performed well.
Such positive showings will give the club some fresh hope as they switch focus to increasing the gap from the bottom three when they welcome their London rivals on Sunday.
"The minimum requirement is a response," added Dyche.
"I've never questioned their commitment or their loyalty or honesty. It is just go and show your ability.
"James was excellent and Dan was incredibly lively. Igor got another two and these are positive indicators."
Player of the Match
Number: 19 Igor Jesus
Average rating: 9.1
Forest Top Players
- #19: Rating 9.10
- #24: Average Rating 8.8
- R. Yates: Rating 8.63
- #6: Rating 8.0
- #31: Average Rating 7.94
The Visitors Notable Players
- #11: Rating 4.1
- Júlio Romão: Rating 4.1
- K. Zachariassen: Average Rating 4.1
After the opportunity to rate players has ended, the score shown is the mean from all the submissions.
