Igor Jesus Scores a Brace as Nottingham Forest Round Off European Campaign with Victory over Hungarian Opponents
Match Summary
- Forest were previously qualified to the play-offs.
- Bence Otvos own goal gives Nottingham Forest a first-half lead.
- The striker's European strike puts the team in command.
- Forward adds a third with a clinical effort in the second half.
- The midfielder caps a excellent performance with a penalty.
The Brazilian attacker found the net on two occasions as Nottingham Forest rounded off the group stage of the European competition with a convincing win against Ferencvaros at the home stadium.
Forest had already secured a berth in the next qualifying round and entered this game with a slim possibility of reaching the top eight, even though they required other matches to fall in their favor.
Those results failed to materialize but this confident performance will give Forest fans confidence that their side can come through the home-and-away tie to advance to the round of sixteen.
A Ferencvaros midfielder did hit the upright with a headed effort inside the opening stages for the visitors – who are managed by ex-Premier League forward Robbie Keane – but it was dominantly the home side from then on.
They opened the scoring in the 17th minute when a delivery from midfield was turned into his own net by Bence Otvos and doubled the lead shortly after – the striker firing an effort in at the back post for his tenth strike of the campaign.
Jesus' 11th came early in the second half when he made a perfectly-timed run to break clear of the defence and then place a shot past the shot-stopper.
That goal killed off the visitors' hopes of making a comeback and instead Forest added a fourth when the excellent McAtee scored from a spot-kick after a infringement by the unfortunate Otvos inside the box on Dan Ndoye.
Europe's secondary club competition knockout phase play-off draw takes place on the final Friday of January (12:00 GMT), where Nottingham Forest might face either the Turkish side or the Greek club.
"It is not just the scoreline, there was that atmosphere about it. I want these players to do well as a unit, the entire team," said Forest boss Sean Dyche.
"That was another step, but it is a good one."
Forest Analysis: Striker Shines as Recent Arrival Watches On
Jesus has been a standout performer for Forest in Europe this term with half of his 11 goals scored in the Europa League.
His brace also means he has got three goals in his previous two outings and the threat of a challenge for his position in the forward line could be spurring him on.
Italian forward Lorenzo Lucca was recently signed on loan and he was observing this game from the stands.
That may well have been on Jesus' mind as he was impressive against the opposition, delivering two excellent finishes and generally being a menace to the visitors' defence with his speed and movement.
Jesus was not the only one in catching the eye, with James McAtee turning in his best performance in a Forest jersey since signing from Manchester City in the previous transfer window, while the Swiss international also impressed.
Such positive showings will give Forest some renewed optimism as they switch focus to pulling further away from the Premier League relegation zone when they welcome their London rivals on the weekend.
"All you can ask for is a response," added Dyche.
"I've never questioned their work ethic or their loyalty or honesty. It is just go and show your ability.
"James was very good and Dan Ndoye was incredibly lively. Jesus got another couple and these are good signs."
Player of the Match
Number: 19 The Striker
Match rating: 9.1
Nottingham Forest Top Players
- Igor Jesus: Rating 9.10
- J. McAtee: Average Rating 8.8
- #22: Average Rating 8.6
- #6: Rating 8.0
- N. Milenković: Average Rating 7.9
The Visitors Notable Players
- #11: Average Rating 4.14
- #66: Rating 4.1
- #16: Average Rating 4.1
Once the chance to submit ratings has ended, the score displayed is the mean from all the submissions.
