Igor Jesus Fires a Brace as Nottingham Forest Conclude Europa League Campaign with Victory over Hungarian Opponents
At a Glance
- Forest were already through to the play-offs.
- Bence Otvos own goal gives Nottingham Forest a first-half lead.
- The striker's fifth goal in Europe puts the team in command.
- Striker nets again with a sharp finish in the second half.
- James McAtee caps a great 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 triumph against their Hungarian visitors at the City Ground.
The hosts had already secured a place in the knockout round play-offs and went into this game with a small chance of making the league's elite, even though they required several results to fall in their favor.
Those results failed to materialize but this assured display will give Forest fans belief that their side can navigate the two-legged play-off to reach the round of sixteen.
A Ferencvaros midfielder did hit the upright with a header inside the first 10 minutes for the visitors – who are managed by ex-Premier League forward Robbie Keane – but it was dominantly the home side from then on.
Forest opened the scoring in the early stages when a delivery from midfield was turned into his own net by the defender and doubled the lead four minutes later – Jesus squeezing a shot in at the far post for his 10th goal of the season.
Jesus' eleventh goal came early in the second half when he made a perfectly-timed run to escape the backline and then drive an effort beyond the shot-stopper.
That goal ended Ferencvaros' 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 hapless Otvos inside the penalty area on the winger.
Europe's secondary club competition qualifying round draw is scheduled on Friday, 30 January (midday UK time), where Forest might face either the Turkish side or the Greek club.
"It is not just the result, there was that feel about it. I want these players to do well as a unit, the entire team," said manager Sean Dyche.
"That was another stride forward, but it is a good step."
Team Breakdown: Striker Shines as New Signing Watches On
Igor Jesus has been a standout performer for Forest in European competition this season with six of his eleven strikes scored in the Europa League.
His brace also means he has got a trio of strikes in his last two games and the threat of a challenge for his place in attack could be providing motivation.
Italian forward Lorenzo Lucca was last week brought in temporarily and he was observing this game from the directors' box.
This development may well have been on Jesus' thoughts as he was impressive against the opposition, producing two excellent goals and overall being a constant threat to the visitors' defence with his speed and movement.
Jesus was not alone in impressing, with James McAtee producing his finest display in a Forest jersey since joining from Manchester City in the previous transfer window, while Dan Ndoye also performed well.
Such positive showings will give Forest some renewed optimism as they switch focus to increasing the gap from the bottom three when they host their London rivals on Sunday.
"The minimum requirement is a response," added Dyche.
"I have always trusted their work ethic or their dedication or honesty. It is just go and show your ability.
"James was very good and Dan was incredibly lively. Igor got another two and these are good signs."
Player of the Match
#19 Igor Jesus
Match rating: 9.10
Nottingham Forest Key Performers
- Igor Jesus: Rating 9.10
- #24: Rating 8.75
- #22: Rating 8.6
- I. Sangaré: Rating 8.0
- N. Milenković: Rating 7.94
Ferencváros Ratings
- B. Yusuf: Average Rating 4.14
- #66: Rating 4.12
- K. Zachariassen: Rating 4.09
After the opportunity to submit ratings has closed, the rating shown is the mean from all the submissions.
