Wrexham reached the fourth round of the FA Cup after defeating Premier League side Nottingham Forest on penalties after a thrilling six-goal game at the Racecourse Ground.
Arthur Okonkwo was the hero for Wrexham with a penalty save, denying Igor Jesus and Omari Hutchinson, while Josh Windass, Callum Doyle, George Thomasson and Jay Rodriguez converted from spot-kicks to give the Championship side a 4-3 spot-kick win.
In front of Hollywood owner Ryan Reynolds, Wrexham took the lead with first-half goals from Liberato Cacace and Oliver Rathbone.
Liberato Cacace scores Wrexham’s opening goal in a thrilling match (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Reynolds was exchanging high-fives and hugs as Phil Parkinson’s side looked set to head into the fourth round and it should have been three wins and possibly a contest over when Sam Smith ran through the woods semi-unchecked but couldn’t beat the outstretched leg of Mats Sells.
Forest manager Sean Dyche made a trio of changes at half-time bringing on Neco Williams, Morgan Gibbs-White and Nicolas Dominguez to turn things around and Jesus narrowed the gap before Dominic Higham’s diving header restored Wrexham’s two-goal advantage with 16 minutes remaining.
Ollie Rathbone put Wrexham 2-0 up before half-time.
Forest looked dead and buried, but substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi ran home 60 seconds later to score a grandstand goal at the racecourse.
Hudson-Odoi took the game into extra-time in great fashion, touching his chest to fire a perfect volley past Okonkwo, but Wrexham were not to be denied in the shoot-out as they claimed their first top-flight FA Cup scalp in 26 years.
Parkinson’s disease: roller coaster game
Phil Parkinson has hailed Wrexham’s “special” giant-killing FA Cup win over Nottingham Forest and expressed his delight that the Welsh club’s Hollywood owner Ryan Reynolds was there to watch it.
“I talked to him before the game and it was great to see him here with his family,” manager Parkinson said of the Deadpool actor.
“I think tonight was the first time Ryan’s mom was here, so it was a really special night and I think she enjoyed it.
“I’m sure they’ll have a few glasses of wine to celebrate on the flight home tonight.”
Parkinson said of the match: “I think the whole ground was flat, so we had to rally our troops a little bit during the break.
“Do you feel like, ‘Did we miss out on our best chance to get through to a Premier League team?’
“However, the players bounced back and although their legs were quite tired, it is a credit to both teams that they played such a good game after a busy Christmas schedule.
“It was a great night for us and I am delighted that this group of players will be able to write their own piece of history in the club’s rich tradition in the FA Cup.”
Dyche: First half performance is unacceptable
Forest manager Sean Dyche was scathing about a first-half performance that ultimately proved costly for last season’s semi-finalists.
“The first half was unacceptable, the players know it, some of them definitely know it.
“They have to look in the mirror on that front, but I thought credit to the players who came on in the second half. We looked like a Premier League team.”
“There were two great goals from Callum…The penalties were a draw, but we created enough chances to win the game but in the end we couldn’t.
Callum Hudson-Odoi scored a stunning equaliser, sending the game into extra-time with the score tied, as Forest came back from 3-1 down.
“They all knock on your door and say, ‘Why don’t I play?’ and the evidence is there honestly for some, but not for everyone.
“But that’s football, you have to train and prepare right, because when your time comes you have to be ready and in the first half there were too many players who weren’t ready.
“I myself encouraged some of the players (at half-time) and in the second half we did what we should do as a Premier League team.
“But you can’t give people a head start with a two-goal difference, and credit to them. By the way, I’m not taking anything away from them. Fair play, but it was an absolutely unacceptable first half from our point of view.”
“We have to make changes because of the game schedule, but the football players are reaching out. They’re not going to knock on my door and say, ‘Why aren’t you playing?’ That first half group.”
When is the draw for the FA Cup 4th round?
All eyes will be on Wrexham in the FA Cup fourth round draw on Monday 12th January.
The draw will take place at Anfield ahead of the final third round match between Liverpool and Barnsley.
It is scheduled to start around 6:30 p.m.
