Igor Jesus Fires a Brace as Nottingham Forest Round Off Europa League Campaign with Win over Ferencvaros
Match Summary
- The home side were already through to the play-offs.
- A Ferencvaros defender own goal gives Nottingham Forest a opening period lead.
- Igor Jesus' European strike puts Forest in control.
- Forward adds a third with a clinical effort in the second half.
- James McAtee caps a excellent performance with a penalty.
Igor Jesus found the net on two occasions as the Premier League side concluded the group stage of the European competition with a convincing win against their Hungarian visitors at the home stadium.
Forest had already secured a place in the knockout round play-offs and entered this fixture with a small chance of reaching the top eight, even though they needed several results to fall in their favor.
Those results failed to materialize but this confident display will give Forest fans confidence 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 header inside the opening stages for the away team – coached by former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane – but it was all Forest from that point forward.
Forest broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when a delivery from midfield was turned into his own net by the defender and doubled the lead four minutes later – the striker squeezing a shot in at the far post for his tenth strike of the campaign.
Jesus' 11th arrived soon after the restart when he made a perfectly-timed run to escape the defence and then drive an effort beyond the goalkeeper.
That goal killed off Ferencvaros' hopes of making a comeback and instead the hosts scored again when the excellent McAtee converted a penalty after a foul by the unfortunate Otvos inside the penalty area on Dan Ndoye.
Europe's secondary club competition knockout phase play-off lottery is scheduled on the final Friday of January (midday UK time), where Forest might face either Fenerbahce or the Greek club.
"It's more than the result, there was that atmosphere about it. I want these guys to do collectively well, the entire team," said Forest boss Sean Dyche.
"That was another step, but it is a positive one."
Team Breakdown: Striker Shines as Recent Arrival Watches On
Igor Jesus has been a standout performer for Nottingham Forest in European competition this term with half of his 11 goals scored in the Europa League.
This double also means he has scored a trio of strikes in his previous two outings and the prospect of a challenge for his position in attack could be spurring him on.
Napoli striker Lorenzo Lucca was recently brought in temporarily and he was observing this game from the directors' box.
That may well have been on Jesus' thoughts as he was outstanding against the opposition, producing two superb goals and generally being a menace to the visitors' defence with his speed and runs.
Jesus was not the only one in catching the eye, with James McAtee turning in his finest display in a Nottingham Forest shirt since signing from Manchester City last summer, while the Swiss international also impressed.
Such positive showings will give the club some renewed optimism as they turn their attention to pulling further away from the Premier League relegation zone when they host their London rivals on the weekend.
"All you can ask for is a response," continued the manager.
"I've never questioned their work ethic or their dedication or integrity. It is just go and show your quality.
"McAtee was very good and Dan was super sharp. Jesus got another two and these are positive indicators."
Star Performer
Number: 19 Igor Jesus
Match rating: 9.1
Nottingham Forest Top Players
- #19: Rating 9.10
- #24: Rating 8.8
- R. Yates: Rating 8.6
- #6: Average Rating 8.0
- N. Milenković: Average Rating 7.94
Ferencváros Ratings
- #11: Average Rating 4.14
- #66: Average Rating 4.1
- #16: Rating 4.09
Once the chance to submit ratings has closed, the rating displayed is the average from all the votes.
