Igor Jesus Scores Twice as The Reds Conclude Europa League Campaign with Victory over Ferencvaros
Match Summary
- The home side were previously qualified to the play-offs.
- A Ferencvaros defender own goal gives Nottingham Forest a opening period lead.
- The striker's fifth goal in Europe puts the team in control.
- Striker adds a third with a clinical effort in the latter period.
- James McAtee caps a excellent performance with a spot-kick.
Igor Jesus found the net on two occasions as the Premier League side rounded off the group stage of the Europa League with a comfortable win against Ferencvaros at the City Ground.
The hosts had already secured a berth in the next qualifying round and went into this game with a slim possibility of reaching the league's elite, although they needed several results to fall in their favor.
Those results failed to materialize but this assured performance will give Forest fans confidence that their team can come through the home-and-away tie to reach the round of sixteen.
Kristoffer Zachariassen did hit the post with a header inside the first 10 minutes for the away team – coached by ex-Premier League forward Robbie Keane – but it was dominantly the home side from then on.
They broke the deadlock in the early stages when a delivery from midfield was turned into his own net by Bence Otvos and doubled the lead four minutes later – the striker firing an effort in at the back post for his 10th goal of the campaign.
Jesus' 11th came early in the second half when he timed a run perfectly to escape the defence and then drive an effort past the goalkeeper.
That goal ended the visitors' hopes of mounting a recovery and instead the hosts added a fourth when the excellent James McAtee converted a spot-kick after a infringement by the hapless Otvos inside the box on Dan Ndoye.
Europe's secondary club competition knockout phase play-off draw takes place on Friday, 30 January (12:00 GMT), where Forest could be drawn against either the Turkish side or the Greek club.
"It is not just the result, there was that feel about it. I want these guys to do well as a unit, the entire team," said manager Sean Dyche.
"That was another stride forward, but it is a good one."
Team Breakdown: Jesus Catches Eye as New Signing Watches On
Igor Jesus has been a revelation for Nottingham Forest in European competition this term with six of his 11 goals coming in the Europa League.
This double also means he has scored three goals in his last two games and the threat of competition for his position in the forward line could be spurring him on.
Italian forward Lorenzo Lucca was recently signed on loan and he was watching this match from the stands.
That may well have been on Jesus' mind as he was impressive against the opposition, producing two excellent goals and generally being a menace to the visitors' defence with his pace and movement.
The forward was not the only one in impressing, with James McAtee producing his best performance in a Nottingham Forest shirt since joining from the champions in the previous transfer window, while the Swiss international also impressed.
Such positive showings will give Forest some renewed optimism as they switch focus to pulling further away from the Premier League relegation zone when they welcome their London rivals on the weekend.
"All you can ask for is a reaction," continued the manager.
"I have always trusted their work ethic or their loyalty or honesty. It is just about displaying your quality.
"McAtee was very good and Dan was incredibly lively. Igor got another couple and these are good signs."
Star Performer
Number: 19 The Striker
Match rating: 9.1
Nottingham Forest Top Players
- #19: Rating 9.10
- J. McAtee: Rating 8.8
- R. Yates: Average Rating 8.6
- I. Sangaré: Average Rating 8.0
- #31: Rating 7.9
Ferencváros Ratings
- B. Yusuf: Rating 4.14
- #66: Rating 4.12
- K. Zachariassen: Rating 4.1
After the opportunity to submit ratings has ended, the rating shown represents the average from all the votes.
