Igor Jesus of Nottingham Forest was the star of the show in an exciting Europa League game against Real Betis. He netted two important goals, carrying his team to an impressive upset 2-2 tie. The 24-year-old Brazil international continued to show enough talent and potential to be considered a bargain signing this past transfer window. His outstanding performance not only drew widespread acclaim but sparked debate about his continued presence in the Forest lineup going forward.
The game was played at the Estadio Benito Villamarín in Seville, and this was always going to be a difficult proposition for Forest against Betis. The match started with both sides applying high pressures and forcing the action, but it was Jesus that proved the X-factor. He made a clever near/post back/post run and finished to put Nottingham Forest level early in their match. He took away a golden opportunity that shifted the momentum of the game.
After bringing his side level from close range Jesus proved his aerial prowess seconds later. He leapt over the Betis defense to give Forest an early lead, heading Luiz’s corner kick into the net. His ability to score and impact the game significantly marked him as a standout player for Nottingham Forest.
It was a brilliant performance from the Brazilian, but he was hooked late on in the game for another summer addition, Arnaud Kalimuendo. The move shocked NFL fans and analysts alike, considering the impact that the Brazilian had on the field. This went beyond the obvious goals Jesus scored though — he constantly harried Betis’ backline and created chances all game long.
Ange Postecogloglou, head coach of Nottingham Forest’s opponents on the day, was impressed with his side’s display. He was pleased with how they dictated the pace of play, especially in that first half. He did concede that his team could have walked away with the win if they had just finished the amount of opportunities they faced.
“Our football was outstanding in the first half, the only thing I could fault is we didn’t put them to bed. We should have finished them off in the first half,” – Ange Postecoglou
Postecoglou was very defensive of the trying circumstances his team played under during the match. He pointed to the humidity and the role it played in sapping players’ stamina as a factor in a second-half performance that left plenty to be desired.
“Difficult place to come, difficult conditions. People don’t realise the humidity out there, how energy sapping it is,” – Ange Postecoglou
Jesus netted a brace on his debut worth Nottingham Forest. This really eye-catching display though has made it very hard for Postecoglou to even consider leaving him out for this weekend’s home match against Sunderland. Unsurprisingly, his performance against Betis has given him the edge to secure a place in the squad. It has too, however, ignited optimism among watchers for his career upside!
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