For three decades, the dream of an away victory in Europe remained agonizingly out of reach for Nottingham Forest. Not since October 1995, when Steve Stone scored against Auxerre, had the famous club tasted victory on foreign soil.
That long, painful curse was finally shattered on Thursday night in the Netherlands, courtesy of a dramatic 88th-minute winner from substitute Igor Jesus, securing a massive 2-1 victory over FC Utrecht in the Europa League.
The Drama in Utrecht
Sean Dyche’s side dominated the opening period of the game, creating multiple chances through Callum Hudson-Odoi and Douglas Luiz, but were continually frustrated by the Utrecht goalkeeper.
The Opener: The breakthrough finally came early in the second half when Arnaud Kalimuendo forced his way through the box, finishing with a fine solo goal to put the Reds 1-0 up.
The Scare: The old European anxieties crept back in when Utrecht equalized in the 73rd minute through a header from Mike van der Hoorn, threatening to hold Forest to yet another frustrating draw.
The Late Hero: With time running out, Dyche rolled the dice, introducing Igor Jesus (who replaced Kalimuendo) and Morgan Gibbs-White.
The gamble paid off almost instantly. After Dan Ndoye's thumping header was parried by the goalkeeper, the Brazilian striker was the quickest to react, slotting the rebound through a crowd of players to clinch the 2-1 victory.
Ending the 30-Year Drought
The significance of the 88th-minute goal cannot be overstated. It represents the closure of one of the most frustrating statistics in the club's modern history.
For a club synonymous with European glory under Brian Clough, ending this 30-year away day drought confirms their genuine resurgence on the continent. Manager Sean Dyche was effusive in his praise for the team and his impactful substitutions.
"We dominated the early periods... we conceded from a free-kick but then the reaction was fantastic, with the subs coming onto the pitch and affecting the game. Igor getting a goal and I'm very pleased for Kali too. Overall we were worthy of the win."
The Rise of Igor Jesus
The 24-year-old Brazilian striker, Igor Jesus Maciel da Cruz, has proven himself a true European specialist for Forest this season. The dramatic winner in Utrecht was his fourth goal in just five Europa League matches, solidifying his position as the club's most potent finisher in the competition.
The win is crucial for Forest, moving them onto 11 points in the League Phase table. With two games left to play, they are now firmly in contention to secure a top-eight finish, which guarantees a direct spot in the knockout round.
The three points secured by the sensational late goal from Igor Jesus ensure that this is one away trip Forest fans will cherish for the next three decades.