Igor Jesus Scores Twice as The Reds Conclude European Campaign with Win over Ferencvaros
Match Summary
- The home side were previously qualified to the knockout round.
- A Ferencvaros defender own goal gives hosts a first-half lead.
- The striker's European strike puts the team in control.
- Striker nets again with a clinical effort in the second half.
- The midfielder caps a great display with a spot-kick.
The Brazilian attacker scored twice as Nottingham Forest concluded the group stage of the European competition with a convincing win against Ferencvaros at the home stadium.
The hosts had previously guaranteed a place in the knockout round play-offs and went into this game with a small chance of making the top eight, even though they required other matches to go their way.
That did not happen but this confident display will give Forest fans confidence that their team can come through the home-and-away tie to advance to the last 16.
Kristoffer Zachariassen struck the post with a headed effort inside the opening stages for the visitors – coached by ex-Premier League forward Robbie Keane – but it was all Forest from that point forward.
Forest opened the scoring in the early stages when a delivery from midfield was turned into his own net by Bence Otvos and added a second four minutes later – Jesus firing an effort in at the far post for his tenth strike of the campaign.
Jesus' eleventh goal arrived soon after the restart when he timed a run perfectly to escape the defence and then place a shot past the goalkeeper.
The third strike ended the visitors' hopes of mounting a recovery and instead the hosts added a fourth when the excellent James McAtee converted a penalty after a foul by the hapless Otvos inside the box on Dan Ndoye.
Europe's secondary club competition knockout phase play-off lottery is scheduled on the final Friday of 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 collectively well, the whole squad," said Forest boss Sean Dyche.
"That was another stride forward, but it is a good one."
Team Breakdown: Striker Shines as Recent Arrival Observes from Stands
Jesus has been a revelation for Nottingham Forest in Europe this season with half of his 11 goals coming in the Europa League.
His brace also means he has got three goals in his last two games and the prospect of a challenge for his position in attack could be spurring him on.
Italian forward Lorenzo Lucca was recently brought in temporarily and he was observing this match from the directors' box.
That may well have been on Jesus' mind as he was impressive against the opposition, producing two superb goals and generally being a constant threat to the opposition backline with his pace and movement.
The forward 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.
These encouraging performances will give the club 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 response," added the manager.
"I have always trusted their commitment or their dedication or integrity. It is just go and show your ability.
"McAtee was very good and Dan Ndoye was super sharp. Jesus got another couple and these are positive indicators."
Player of the Match
#19 The Striker
Match rating: 9.1
Forest Top Players
- #19: Rating 9.10
- #24: Average Rating 8.8
- R. Yates: Rating 8.63
- #6: Rating 8.01
- N. Milenković: Average Rating 7.94
Ferencváros Ratings
- B. Yusuf: Average Rating 4.14
- #66: Average Rating 4.12
- #16: Average Rating 4.09
Once the chance to rate players has ended, the score displayed represents the mean from all the votes.