Nottingham Forest fans are making the same point about Igor Jesus after 2-1 vs FC Utrecht

Igor Jesus: From Bench to Saviour – Forest Fans Lose Their Minds in Utrecht

Nottingham Forest supporters are still buzzing after substitute Igor Jesus climbed off the bench to head home an 88th-minute winner against FC Utrecht, sealing a dramatic 2-1 victory in the Europa League on Wednesday night.

The Brazilian striker had been an unused substitute in Forest’s previous three matches, but when Nuno Espírito Santo turned to him with 18 minutes left, Jesus needed only eight minutes to make himself an instant hero. Meeting Callum Hudson-Odoi’s pinpoint cross with a thumping header past the helpless Vasilios Barkas, he sent the 1,200 travelling Reds behind the goal into absolute delirium.Social media erupted within seconds.

“Igor Jesus Christ that header was filthy,” posted one fan on X, racking up thousands of likes. Another wrote: “Been quiet for weeks and then does THAT. Proper super-sub energy. I’m in love.”Chants of “I-gor Je-sus” rang around the Galgenwaard long after the final whistle, while the club’s official account simply tweeted a halo emoji above his celebration photo – a post that’s already nearing half a million impressions.

Speaking pitch-side, a beaming Jesus said through a translator: “The fans travelled so far, I just wanted to give them something to sing about. When Callum’s cross came in I only had one thought – attack it.”

Forest fans have quickly coined new nicknames – “Saint Igor”, “Jesus Take The Wheel” and “The Second Coming” trending across supporter forums overnight. One popular tweet read: “Taiwo Awoniyi who? We’ve upgraded to the Messiah.”

The result lifts Forest into the Europa League’s top eight with two league-phase games remaining, but for the Garibaldi faithful travelling home today, the night belonged to the £15 million summer signing from Botafogo who reminded everyone exactly why the club fought so hard to bring him to the City Ground.

As one supporter put it on the train back to Amsterdam airport: “We’ve waited 30 years for European nights again. If Igor Jesus keeps doing things like that, we’ll be believing in miracles all season.”