Igor Jesus Scores Twice as The Reds Conclude Europa League Group Stage with Victory over Ferencvaros
Match Summary
- The home side were previously qualified to the knockout round.
- A Ferencvaros defender deflection gives Nottingham Forest a opening period lead.
- Igor Jesus' fifth goal in Europe puts the team in command.
- Striker nets again with a clinical effort in the second half.
- The midfielder rounds off a great performance with a penalty.
The Brazilian attacker found the net on two occasions as the Premier League side concluded the league phase of the European competition with a comfortable triumph against their Hungarian visitors at the home stadium.
Forest had already secured a berth in the next qualifying round and went into this fixture with a small chance of making the top eight, although they needed several results to fall in their favor.
Those results failed to materialize but this assured display will give the supporters belief that their team can navigate the two-legged play-off to reach the last 16.
Kristoffer Zachariassen 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.
They opened the scoring in the 17th minute when a delivery from midfield was turned into his own net by Bence Otvos and doubled the lead shortly after – the striker firing an effort in at the back post for his 10th goal of the season.
Jesus' eleventh goal came early in the second half when he made a perfectly-timed run to escape the backline and then place a shot beyond the shot-stopper.
That goal ended Ferencvaros' hopes of mounting a recovery and instead Forest added a fourth when the excellent James McAtee scored from a penalty after a foul by the hapless Otvos inside the penalty area on Dan Ndoye.
The Europa League knockout phase play-off lottery takes place on Friday, 30 January (midday UK time), where Forest might face either the Turkish side or the Greek club.
"It is not just the scoreline, there was that feel about it. I want these guys to do well as a unit, the whole squad," said Forest boss Sean Dyche.
"This is another step, but it is a good step."
Forest Analysis: Striker Shines 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 tournament.
This double also means he has got three goals in his last two games and the prospect of a challenge for his position in the forward line could be spurring him on.
Napoli striker Lorenzo Lucca was last week brought in temporarily and he was watching this game from the directors' box.
That may well have been on Jesus' thoughts as he was impressive against the opposition, producing two superb goals and generally being a menace to the visitors' defence with his speed and movement.
Jesus was not the only one in catching the eye, with McAtee producing his finest display in a Forest jersey since signing from the champions last summer, while Dan Ndoye also performed well.
These encouraging performances will give the club some renewed optimism as they switch focus to pulling further away from the bottom three when they host Crystal Palace on the weekend.
"The minimum requirement is a reaction," continued Dyche.
"I have always trusted their commitment or their loyalty or honesty. It is just about displaying your ability.
"James was excellent and Dan was super sharp. Jesus got another couple and these are positive indicators."
Player of the Match
Number: 19 The Striker
Average rating: 9.1
Nottingham Forest Key Performers
- #19: Average Rating 9.10
- #24: Average Rating 8.75
- R. Yates: Rating 8.63
- #6: Rating 8.01
- #31: Rating 7.94
Ferencváros Ratings
- #11: Average Rating 4.14
- #66: Average Rating 4.12
- K. Zachariassen: Average Rating 4.09
Once the chance to submit ratings has ended, the score displayed is the mean from all the submissions.
