Wrexham stun to knock Nottingham Forest out of FA Cup

Wrexham’s cinematic rise under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney reached a new peak on Friday night. 

The Welsh club knocked Premier League side Nottingham Forest out of the FA Cup following a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout victory that captured the magic of the world's oldest knockout competition.

The match was a true "rollercoaster," with Wrexham taking a commanding first-half lead through goals from Liberato Cacace and Oliver Rathbone. Although Igor Jesus pulled one back for the visitors, Dominic Hyam’s diving header seemingly secured the upset with just 16 minutes remaining on the clock.

However, Forest substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi sparked a late revival, netting two excellent goals—including a stunning 89th-minute equalizer. With FA Cup replays now a thing of the past, the tie moved through a tense extra-time period before reaching a definitive shootout.

Goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo provided the evening's final blockbuster moment, producing vital saves from Igor Jesus and Omari. His heroics ensured that successful spot-kicks from Josh Windass, Callum Doyle, George Thomason, and Jay Rodriguez sent the Racecourse Ground into raptures.

A disappointed Sean Dyche labeled Forest's first-half performance "completely unacceptable," noting that his much-changed side failed to show their Premier League quality until it was too late. Meanwhile, Wrexham’s fairytale continues as they march into the fourth round, proving their promotion-winning momentum translates perfectly to the big stage.