Igor Jesus Scores a Brace as Nottingham Forest Round Off Europa League Campaign with Win over Ferencvaros
At a Glance
- Forest were already through to the play-offs.
- Bence Otvos deflection gives hosts a opening period lead.
- Igor Jesus' European strike puts the team in control.
- Forward adds a third with a clinical effort in the latter period.
- James McAtee rounds off a great performance with a spot-kick.
Igor Jesus found the net on two occasions as Nottingham Forest concluded the league phase of the European competition with a comfortable triumph against their Hungarian visitors at the home stadium.
The hosts had previously guaranteed a place in the next qualifying round and entered this game with a slim possibility of reaching the top eight, even though they needed other matches to fall in their favor.
That did not happen but this confident performance will give the supporters confidence that their team can navigate the two-legged play-off to advance to the last 16.
A Ferencvaros midfielder struck the upright with a headed effort inside the first 10 minutes for the away team – 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 Ryan Yates' cross was turned into his own net by the defender and doubled the lead four minutes later – the striker squeezing a shot in at the back post for his tenth strike of the season.
Jesus' eleventh goal came early in the second half when he made a perfectly-timed run to escape the defence and then place a shot beyond the shot-stopper.
That goal killed off Ferencvaros' hopes of making a comeback and instead Forest added a fourth when the excellent McAtee converted a penalty after a foul by the unfortunate Bence Otvos inside the penalty area on Dan Ndoye.
The Europa League qualifying round draw is scheduled on the final Friday of January (12:00 GMT), where Nottingham Forest could be drawn against either the Turkish side or Panathinaikos.
"It is not just the scoreline, there was that feel about it. I want these players to do collectively well, the entire team," said Forest boss Sean Dyche.
"This is another stride forward, but it is a good step."
Forest Analysis: Striker Shines as Recent Arrival Observes from Stands
Igor Jesus has been a revelation for Nottingham Forest in European competition this term with six of his eleven strikes scored in the tournament.
This double also means he has scored a trio of strikes in his last two games and the prospect of competition for his position in attack could be providing motivation.
Italian forward Lorenzo Lucca was last week brought in temporarily and he was observing this match from the directors' box.
That may well have been on Jesus' mind as he was outstanding against Ferencvaros, delivering two excellent finishes and generally being a constant threat to the visitors' defence with his speed and movement.
Jesus was not the only one in impressing, with James McAtee producing his best performance in a Nottingham Forest shirt since signing from the champions in the previous transfer window, while Dan Ndoye also performed well.
These encouraging performances will give the club some fresh hope as they switch focus to increasing the gap from the bottom three when they host their London rivals on the weekend.
"The minimum requirement is a reaction," added Dyche.
"I have always trusted their work ethic or their loyalty or integrity. It is just about displaying your ability.
"McAtee was very good and Dan Ndoye was incredibly lively. Jesus got another two and these are good signs."
Player of the Match
Number: 19 The Striker
Match rating: 9.1
Forest Top Players
- #19: Rating 9.1
- J. McAtee: Rating 8.75
- #22: Rating 8.63
- #6: Rating 8.0
- N. Milenković: Rating 7.9
Ferencváros Notable Players
- #11: Average Rating 4.1
- #66: Average Rating 4.12
- #16: Average Rating 4.09
After the opportunity to submit ratings has closed, the rating shown represents the mean from all the votes.
