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Wrexham knocked Premier League Nottingham Forest out of the FA Cup after a dramatic draw and penalty shootout, continuing their fairytale rise under Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac.
Wrexham continued their incredible story under Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac by eliminating Nottingham Forest from the FA Cup after a dramatic match decided by penalties.
After a breathless draw, the Welsh club won 4-3 in the shootout, with goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo becoming the hero of the night by saving efforts from Igor Jesus and Omari.
For Wrexham, Josh Windass, Callum Doyle, George Thomason and Jay Rodriguez all converted their penalties with confidence.
The match itself was a rollercoaster.
Liberato Cacace and Oliver Rathbone scored in the first half to give Wrexham a deserved 2-0 lead and put the Premier League side under serious pressure.
Forest responded after the break, with Igor Jesus pulling one back. However, Dominic Hyam soon restored Wrexham’s two-goal advantage with a diving header with 16 minutes left.
Just when it seemed the upset was secured, Forest substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi changed the story of the night.
He scored two brilliant goals, including a dramatic 89th-minute equaliser, to force the game beyond 90 minutes. With replays no longer part of the FA Cup format, the tie went to extra time and then to penalties, where Wrexham held their nerve.
The victory is another chapter in the remarkable rise of the club, who have achieved three consecutive promotions since being taken over in 2021 and are currently enjoying a strong run in the Championship.
Forest manager Sean Dyche did not hide his frustration after the match.
“The first half was completely unacceptable. I let the players know, and certainly some individuals will know. They’ve got to look in the mirror,” he said.
“But the strangeness of football — the players who came on in the second half were a credit, and we went on and looked like a Premier League side.”
Elsewhere in the FA Cup, Wigan beat Preston 1-0 away, Port Vale shocked Fleetwood by the same scoreline, and Oxford needed penalties to eliminate Milton Keynes Dons.
The third round of the FA Cup marks the traditional entry point for Premier League and Championship clubs into the world’s oldest football competition — and Wrexham have already ensured they will be one of the stories of this year’s edition.