Forest leave it late but claim vital win in Utrecht | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest left it to the dying moments in the Netherlands, but a sharp finish from Igor Jesus earned them a hard-fought 2-1 win over Utrecht and kept their hopes of automatic Europa League progression very much alive.

The first half never really sparked, but Forest came out after the break with far more purpose. Their reward arrived shortly after the restart when Arnaud Kalimuendo pressed aggressively, blocked a clearance and found the ball breaking his way. He stayed composed, guided it low past Vasilios Barkas and suddenly Forest were in charge.

From there, Sean Dyche’s side looked comfortable and seemed more likely to extend their advantage than surrender it. Yet a lapse from a set-piece dragged them back into trouble. Mike van der Hoorn  peeled to the back post and powered in a header to bring Utrecht level.

The goal lit up the home support, and Forest briefly lost their grip on the game as the hosts sensed an upset.

Forest threw bodies forward in search of a winner and nearly got punished on the counter, but Dyche’s decision to introduce Jesus proved decisive. Barely a minute after stepping onto the pitch, the striker reacted quickest when Dan Ndoye’s header was pushed out by Barkas, steering the loose ball home with two minutes left on the clock.

It was his fourth goal in this season’s Europa League and one that snapped Forest’s long, unwanted run of failing to win away in Europe - a drought stretching back three decades.

The victory lifts them to 11 points and leaves them well placed for at least a playoff spot, with the top eight still within touching distance.

Utrecht, meanwhile, remain without a win in Europe this season, and this late blow only deepened their frustrations.