Igor Jesus Fires Twice as The Reds Round Off European Group Stage with Victory over Hungarian Opponents
Match Summary
- The home side were already through to the knockout round.
- Bence Otvos deflection gives hosts a opening period lead.
- The striker's European strike puts Forest in command.
- Striker nets again with a clinical effort in the second half.
- James McAtee rounds off a excellent performance with a penalty.
The Brazilian attacker scored twice as Nottingham Forest concluded the league phase of the Europa League with a convincing win against Ferencvaros at the City Ground.
Forest had previously guaranteed a place in the knockout round play-offs and entered this game with a small chance of reaching the league's elite, even though they required several results to go their way.
Those results failed to materialize but this confident performance will give Forest fans belief that their side can navigate the home-and-away tie to reach the round of sixteen.
A Ferencvaros midfielder did hit the post with a headed effort inside the first 10 minutes for the visitors – who are managed by ex-Premier League forward Robbie Keane – but it was all Forest from that point forward.
Forest opened the scoring in the early stages when Ryan Yates' cross was deflected in by Bence Otvos and added a second shortly after – Jesus firing an effort in at the back post for his tenth strike of the season.
The forward's 11th arrived early in the second half when he made a perfectly-timed run to escape the defence and then place a shot past the goalkeeper.
The third strike killed off Ferencvaros' aspirations of making a comeback and instead the hosts added a fourth when the excellent McAtee converted a penalty after a infringement by the hapless Bence Otvos inside the penalty area on Dan Ndoye.
The Europa League knockout phase play-off draw is scheduled on the final Friday of January (midday UK time), where Forest could be drawn against either the Turkish side or Panathinaikos.
"It is not just the result, there was that atmosphere about it. I want these guys to do well as a unit, the whole squad," said Forest boss Sean Dyche.
"That was another step, but it is a positive one."
Team Breakdown: Jesus Catches Eye as New Signing Watches On
Igor Jesus has been a revelation for Forest in Europe this season with six of his 11 goals scored in the Europa League.
His brace also means he has got three goals in his last two games and the threat of a challenge for his place in the forward line could be providing motivation.
Italian forward Lorenzo Lucca was recently signed on loan and he was watching this game from the directors' box.
This development may well have been on Jesus' mind 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.
The forward was not alone in impressing, with James McAtee turning in his finest display in a Forest jersey since signing from Manchester City last summer, while Dan Ndoye also impressed.
Such positive showings will give the club some fresh hope as they turn their attention to pulling further away from the bottom three when they welcome Crystal Palace on the weekend.
"All you can ask for is a reaction," continued Dyche.
"I have always trusted their work ethic or their dedication or honesty. It is just about displaying your ability.
"McAtee was excellent and Dan was super sharp. Igor got another couple and these are good signs."
Star Performer
Number: 19 Igor Jesus
Average rating: 9.1
Forest Top Players
- Igor Jesus: Rating 9.1
- #24: Average Rating 8.8
- #22: Average Rating 8.63
- #6: Rating 8.01
- N. Milenković: Average Rating 7.94
Ferencváros Ratings
- B. Yusuf: Rating 4.1
- #66: Rating 4.12
- K. Zachariassen: Average Rating 4.1
Once the chance to rate players has ended, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions.
