Forest's Striker Scores a Brace as The Reds Conclude Europa League Campaign with Win over Hungarian Opponents
At a Glance
- Forest were already through to the play-offs.
- Bence Otvos own goal gives Nottingham Forest a opening period lead.
- Igor Jesus' European strike puts Forest in command.
- Forward nets again with a sharp finish in the second half.
- The midfielder caps a excellent performance with a penalty.
Igor Jesus found the net on two occasions as Nottingham Forest rounded off the group stage of the Europa League with a comfortable triumph against their Hungarian visitors at the City Ground.
Forest had already secured a berth in the next qualifying round and went into this fixture with a small chance of reaching the league's elite, even though they required several results to go their way.
Those results failed to materialize but this confident display will give Forest fans belief that their team can navigate the two-legged play-off to reach the last 16.
A Ferencvaros midfielder struck the upright with a header inside the first 10 minutes for the away team – who are managed by former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane – but it was all Forest from then on.
They 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 – the striker squeezing a shot in at the far post for his tenth strike of the season.
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 beyond the shot-stopper.
The third strike ended the visitors' hopes of mounting a recovery and instead Forest added a fourth when the impressive James McAtee converted a spot-kick after a infringement by the unfortunate Bence Otvos inside the penalty area on the winger.
Europe's secondary club competition qualifying round lottery takes place on the final Friday of January (12:00 GMT), where Nottingham Forest might face either the Turkish side or Panathinaikos.
"It is not just the result, there was that feel about it. I want these guys to do well as a unit, the entire team," said Forest boss Sean Dyche.
"That was another stride forward, but it is a good step."
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Igor Jesus has been a revelation for Nottingham Forest in European competition this season with six of his 11 goals scored in the tournament.
His brace also means he has got three goals in his previous two outings and the threat of competition for his position in the forward line could be providing motivation.
Napoli striker Lorenzo Lucca was last week signed on loan and he was watching this match from the stands.
That may well have been on Jesus' thoughts as he was impressive against Ferencvaros, producing two excellent finishes and generally being a menace to the opposition backline with his pace and movement.
Jesus was not the only one in impressing, with McAtee producing his best performance in a Nottingham Forest shirt since joining from Manchester City last summer, while the Swiss international also impressed.
These encouraging performances will give the club some fresh hope as they switch focus to pulling further away from the Premier League relegation zone when they welcome their London rivals on Sunday.
"The minimum requirement is a reaction," added Dyche.
"I have always trusted their commitment or their dedication or honesty. It is just about displaying your ability.
"McAtee was excellent and Dan Ndoye was incredibly lively. Igor got another couple and these are good signs."
Player of the Match
#19 The Striker
Match rating: 9.10
Nottingham Forest Key Performers
- #19: Rating 9.1
- #24: Rating 8.8
- #22: Rating 8.6
- #6: Rating 8.01
- #31: Rating 7.94
Ferencváros Notable Players
- B. Yusuf: Average Rating 4.14
- JĂşlio RomĂŁo: Rating 4.1
- #16: Average Rating 4.1
After the opportunity to submit ratings has closed, the score shown is the mean from all the votes.
