Forest's Striker Fires a Brace as The Reds Round Off European Group Stage with Victory over Ferencvaros
At a Glance
- The home side were already through to the knockout round.
- Bence Otvos deflection gives hosts a opening period lead.
- The striker's fifth goal in Europe puts the team in command.
- Forward nets again with a clinical effort in the latter period.
- James McAtee caps a great performance with a penalty.
Igor Jesus found the net on two occasions as Nottingham Forest rounded off the group stage of the European competition with a convincing win against Ferencvaros at the City Ground.
The hosts had previously guaranteed a place in the knockout round play-offs and went into this fixture with a slim possibility of reaching the top eight, although they needed other matches to fall in their favor.
That did not happen but this confident performance will give Forest fans confidence that their side can come through the home-and-away tie to advance to the round of sixteen.
Kristoffer Zachariassen struck the upright with a header inside the first 10 minutes for the visitors – coached by ex-Premier League forward Robbie Keane – but it was dominantly the home side from that point forward.
Forest broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when a delivery from midfield was deflected in by Bence Otvos and added a second shortly after – Jesus squeezing a shot in at the back post for his 10th goal of the campaign.
The forward's 11th came soon after the restart when he timed a run perfectly to escape the backline and then drive an effort beyond the goalkeeper.
The third strike ended the visitors' hopes of mounting a recovery and instead the hosts added a fourth when the impressive McAtee scored from a spot-kick after a foul by the unfortunate Otvos inside the penalty area on Dan Ndoye.
The Europa League knockout phase play-off draw is scheduled on the final Friday of January (12:00 GMT), where Nottingham Forest could be drawn against either the Turkish side or Panathinaikos.
"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.
"That was another stride forward, but it is a positive one."
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Jesus has been a standout performer for Forest in Europe this season with six of his 11 goals scored in the Europa League.
This double also means he has scored three goals in his previous two outings and the threat of a challenge for his place in the forward line could be providing motivation.
Italian forward Lorenzo Lucca was last week signed on loan and he was watching this game from the directors' box.
That may well have been on the striker's thoughts as he was outstanding against Ferencvaros, delivering two superb finishes and generally being a constant threat to the visitors' defence with his pace and movement.
The forward was not alone in impressing, with James McAtee turning in his finest display in a Nottingham Forest shirt since joining from Manchester City last summer, while Dan Ndoye also performed well.
Such positive showings will give the club some renewed optimism as they turn their attention to increasing the gap from the bottom three when they host their London rivals on Sunday.
"The minimum requirement is a reaction," continued the manager.
"I have always trusted their work ethic or their dedication or integrity. It is just go and show your ability.
"James was very good and Dan was super sharp. Jesus got another two and these are positive indicators."
Player of the Match
#19 The Striker
Match rating: 9.1
Forest Key Performers
- Igor Jesus: Average Rating 9.1
- #24: Rating 8.8
- #22: Rating 8.63
- #6: Rating 8.0
- N. Milenković: Average Rating 7.9
The Visitors Ratings
- #11: Rating 4.14
- #66: Rating 4.1
- #16: Rating 4.1
Once the chance to submit ratings has closed, the rating shown is the average from all the votes.
