Antony scored a late equalizer to rescue a 2-2 draw for Real Betis against Nottingham Forest in the Europa League on Thursday in the English team’s return to European competition after three decades.
Igor Jesus scored two first-half goals to put Forest 2-1 ahead but Antony, the former Manchester United forward, struck five minutes from time to deny the visitors a first win under coach Ange Postecoglou since the former Tottenham manager took over from the fired Nuno Espírito Santo.
Forest reached the quarterfinals of the UEFA Cup, the predecessor of the current second-tier competition, in the 1995-96 season but hasn’t been back in Europe until now.
Igor Jesus celebrates one of his goals.Credit: Getty Images
Jesus netted his first in the 18th minute, three minutes after Cédric Bakambu put Betis 1-0 up with a high shot from inside the area. Morgan Gibbs-White crossed from the right for the Brazilian forward to tap in the equalizer. Another five minutes later, Jesus surged into the box to head in a second goal in his second competitive start since his transfer from Botafogo in July.
Postecoglou was fired by Tottenham in June despite winning the Europa League for Spurs’ first trophy in 17 years after a season in which they endured their worst-ever Premier League campaign, finishing 17th.
Forest is in the Europa League instead of Crystal Palace, the English FA Cup winner which was demoted by UEFA in a complex case relating to owners having stakes in multiple clubs. Crystal Palace will play the third-tier Conference League.