Forest's Striker Scores a Brace as The Reds Conclude Europa League Campaign with Win over Ferencvaros
Match Summary
- The home side were previously qualified to the play-offs.
- Bence Otvos deflection gives hosts a first-half lead.
- Igor Jesus' European strike puts the team in control.
- Striker nets again with a clinical effort in the second half.
- The midfielder rounds off a great performance with a penalty.
Igor Jesus scored twice as Nottingham Forest concluded the league phase of the Europa League with a convincing win against their Hungarian visitors at the home stadium.
The hosts had already secured a place in the next qualifying round and went into this game with a slim possibility of making the league's elite, although they needed several results to go their way.
That did not happen but this confident display will give Forest fans confidence that their team can navigate the home-and-away tie to advance to the last 16.
Kristoffer Zachariassen struck the post with a header inside the opening stages for the visitors – who are managed by former Tottenham striker 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 deflected in by the defender and added a second four minutes later – Jesus squeezing a shot in at the back post for his tenth strike of the campaign.
The forward's 11th came soon after the restart when he timed a run perfectly to escape the backline and then place a shot beyond the goalkeeper.
The third strike killed off the visitors' aspirations of making a comeback and instead the hosts scored again when the impressive James McAtee scored from a spot-kick after a infringement by the unfortunate Otvos inside the box on Dan Ndoye.
Europe's secondary club competition knockout phase play-off draw takes place on Friday, 30 January (midday UK time), where Forest might face either Fenerbahce or Panathinaikos.
"It's more than the scoreline, there was that atmosphere about it. I want these players to do collectively well, the entire team," said manager Sean Dyche.
"This is another step, but it is a good step."
Forest Analysis: Striker Shines as Recent Arrival Observes from Stands
Igor Jesus has been a revelation for Nottingham Forest in European competition this season with six of his eleven strikes coming in the tournament.
His brace also means he has scored a trio of strikes 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 signed on loan and he was watching this game from the directors' box.
This development may well have been on Jesus' thoughts as he was impressive against the opposition, delivering two excellent finishes and overall being a constant threat to the visitors' defence with his speed and runs.
Jesus was not alone in catching the eye, with James McAtee turning in his finest display in a Nottingham Forest shirt since joining from the champions last summer, while Dan Ndoye also impressed.
Such positive showings will give Forest some fresh hope as they turn their attention to pulling further away from the Premier League relegation zone when they welcome their London rivals on the weekend.
"The minimum requirement is a response," continued Dyche.
"I have always trusted their work ethic or their dedication or honesty. It is just about displaying your quality.
"James was very good and Dan was super sharp. Jesus got another couple and these are good signs."
Player of the Match
#19 The Striker
Average rating: 9.10
Forest Key Performers
- #19: Rating 9.10
- #24: Rating 8.8
- R. Yates: Average Rating 8.6
- I. Sangaré: Rating 8.01
- #31: Average Rating 7.9
Ferencváros Notable Players
- B. Yusuf: Average Rating 4.1
- Júlio Romão: Rating 4.12
- #16: Average Rating 4.1
Once the chance to submit ratings has ended, the rating shown is the average from all the submissions.
