Igor Jesus Fires a Brace as The Reds Round Off Europa League Campaign with Victory over Hungarian Opponents
Match Summary
- The home side were already through to the play-offs.
- A Ferencvaros defender deflection gives hosts a opening period lead.
- The striker's fifth goal in Europe puts the team in command.
- Forward adds a third with a sharp finish in the latter period.
- James McAtee caps a excellent display with a penalty.
The Brazilian attacker scored twice as Nottingham Forest concluded the group stage of the European competition with a convincing win against their Hungarian visitors at the City Ground.
Forest had previously guaranteed a place in the knockout round play-offs and went into this fixture with a slim possibility of reaching the league's elite, even though they required several results to go their way.
That did not happen but this assured display will give the supporters belief that their team can come through the home-and-away tie to advance to the round of sixteen.
A Ferencvaros midfielder did hit the post with a headed effort inside the first 10 minutes for the visitors – who are managed by former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane – but it was dominantly the home side from then on.
They opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Ryan Yates' cross was deflected in by Bence Otvos and doubled the lead shortly after – Jesus squeezing a shot in at the far post for his 10th goal of the campaign.
The forward's eleventh goal arrived soon after the restart when he made a perfectly-timed run to escape the backline and then place a shot past the goalkeeper.
That goal killed off Ferencvaros' aspirations of making a comeback and instead the hosts added a fourth when the excellent James McAtee scored from 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 draw is scheduled on the final Friday of January (12:00 GMT), where Nottingham 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 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 Recent Arrival Watches On
Jesus has been a standout performer for Nottingham Forest in European competition this season with half of his eleven strikes coming in the Europa League.
This double also means he has scored a trio of strikes in his previous two outings and the prospect of competition for his position in the forward line could be providing motivation.
Napoli striker Lorenzo Lucca was last week brought in temporarily and he was observing this match from the stands.
That may well have been on Jesus' thoughts as he was outstanding against the opposition, delivering two superb finishes and generally being a menace to the opposition backline with his speed and runs.
The forward was not the only one in catching the eye, with James McAtee producing his finest display in a Nottingham Forest shirt since joining from Manchester City last summer, while the Swiss international also performed well.
These encouraging performances will give the club some fresh hope as they switch focus to pulling further away from the bottom three when they welcome their London rivals on the weekend.
"All you can ask for is a reaction," continued Dyche.
"I've never questioned their work ethic or their dedication or honesty. It is just go and show your quality.
"McAtee was very good and Dan Ndoye was incredibly lively. Jesus got another two and these are positive indicators."
Star Performer
#19 The Striker
Match rating: 9.1
Forest Top Players
- Igor Jesus: Rating 9.10
- #24: Rating 8.8
- #22: Average Rating 8.63
- I. Sangaré: Average Rating 8.01
- #31: Average Rating 7.9
Ferencváros Ratings
- #11: Rating 4.1
- #66: Rating 4.12
- K. Zachariassen: Rating 4.09
After the opportunity to rate players has ended, the rating shown is the mean from all the submissions.
