Igor Jesus’ strike helps Forest conquer Utrecht for crucial Europa League win | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest secured a vital 2-1 victory at Utrecht to strengthen their push for automatic progression in the Europa League league phase.

Igor Jesus struck two minutes from time to settle a tense contest and extend Forest’s excellent European form under manager Sean Dyche, whose side are unbeaten in four matches in the competition.

The win keeps Forest firmly in the chase for a top-eight finish, continuing a continental resurgence that has gathered pace since Dyche’s arrival.

Forest entered the game with confidence after a strong run of European performances, and they carried that assertiveness into the early stages in the Netherlands.

They created a flurry of chances in the opening half-hour and continued to press even when the final decision or finish was missing.

Their breakthrough came shortly after half-time when Arnaud Kalimuendo reacted sharply to a fortuitous rebound inside the box and guided a composed finish beyond Vasilis Barkas.

Forest looked comfortable at that stage and nearly doubled their lead when Kalimuendo struck the post moments later.

However, the match turned unexpectedly when Utrecht struck from a set piece, ending Forest’s run of clean sheets under Dyche in Europe.

Mike van der Hoorn climbed highest to convert a free-kick delivery, and the equaliser energised the home side, who sensed an opportunity to punish Forest’s defensive lapses.

Utrecht pushed forward with confidence and created sustained pressure that forced Forest to retreat deeper than they would have liked.

Dyche made substitutions that altered the momentum, introducing Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus to restore the attacking threat.

Gibbs-White immediately injected quality between the lines, and his pass released Callum Hudson-Odoi in the build-up to the decisive moment.

Hudson-Odoi’s cross was headed at goal by Dan Ndoye. Barkas kept it out, but Jesus reacted first to bury the rebound with characteristic sharpness.

The goal was his seventh for the club since joining in the summer and further evidence of why he has quickly become one of Forest’s most influential European performers.

It also underlined Dyche’s impact in tight matches, with his in-game adjustments again proving decisive on a night when Forest had briefly lost control.

This was Forest’s first away European victory since 1995 and places them in a strong position heading into their final fixtures against Sporting Braga and Ferencvaros.

It also reinforces the sense of momentum gathering around Dyche’s squad as they continue to navigate a demanding league phase with growing conviction.