Igor Jesus Scores Twice as Nottingham Forest Round Off European Group Stage with Win over Ferencvaros
At a Glance
- Forest were already through to the knockout round.
- Bence Otvos own goal gives hosts a opening period lead.
- The striker's European strike puts Forest in control.
- Forward adds a third with a sharp finish in the latter period.
- The midfielder rounds off a great display with a penalty.
The Brazilian attacker scored twice as Nottingham Forest rounded off the league phase of the European competition with a convincing win against their Hungarian visitors at the City Ground.
Forest had previously guaranteed a berth in the knockout round play-offs and went into this fixture with a small chance of reaching the top eight, even though they needed other matches to fall in their favor.
Those results failed to materialize but this confident display will give the supporters belief that their side can come through the home-and-away tie to reach the round of sixteen.
A Ferencvaros midfielder struck the upright with a headed effort inside the first 10 minutes for the away team – coached by former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane – but it was all Forest from that point forward.
They broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when a delivery from midfield was turned into his own net by Bence Otvos and doubled the lead four minutes later – the striker squeezing a shot in at the far post for his 10th goal of the campaign.
Jesus' eleventh goal arrived soon after the restart when he made a perfectly-timed run to escape the defence and then place a shot past the shot-stopper.
The third strike ended Ferencvaros' aspirations of mounting a recovery and instead the hosts added a fourth when the excellent James McAtee scored from a spot-kick after a foul by the hapless Otvos inside the box on Dan Ndoye.
The Europa League knockout phase play-off lottery is scheduled on Friday, 30 January (midday UK time), where Forest could be drawn against either Fenerbahce or the Greek club.
"It's more than 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 stride forward, but it is a positive step."
Forest Analysis: Striker Shines as Recent Arrival Observes from Stands
Jesus has been a revelation for Nottingham Forest in Europe this term with half of his eleven strikes coming in the Europa League.
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 the forward line could be spurring him on.
Napoli striker Lorenzo Lucca was last week signed on loan and he was watching this match from the directors' box.
This development may well have been on Jesus' mind as he was outstanding against the opposition, delivering two superb goals and overall being a menace to the visitors' defence with his pace and runs.
Jesus was not the only one in impressing, with McAtee turning in his best performance in a Forest jersey since signing from Manchester City in the previous transfer window, while Dan Ndoye also impressed.
Such positive showings will give the club some fresh hope as they switch focus to pulling further away from the bottom three when they host Crystal Palace on Sunday.
"All you can ask for is a reaction," added the manager.
"I have always trusted their work ethic or their dedication or honesty. It is just go and show your quality.
"McAtee was very good and Dan Ndoye was super sharp. Jesus got another two and these are positive indicators."
Player of the Match
#19 The Striker
Average rating: 9.10
Nottingham Forest Key Performers
- Igor Jesus: Average Rating 9.10
- J. McAtee: Average Rating 8.75
- R. Yates: Average Rating 8.6
- #6: Average Rating 8.01
- #31: Average Rating 7.9
Ferencváros Ratings
- #11: Average Rating 4.1
- #66: Rating 4.1
- #16: Rating 4.09
After the opportunity to submit ratings has closed, the score shown is the average from all the submissions.
