WREXHAM 3-3 NOTTINGHAM FOREST (Wrexham win 4-3 on pens): Goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo is the hero as Welsh side stun Premier League team in the third round of the FA Cup
Ryan Reynolds watched his beloved Wrexham knockout Premier League Nottingham Forest on penalties to claim a huge FA Cup scalp.
The Hollywood actor, alongside Rob McElhenney, has turned the North East Wales side into the most recognisable EFL side on the planet. Forest were the Red Dragons’ first Premier League opponent since the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ series changed the club forever.
Sean Dyche’s side, who made eight changes from their 2-1 away victory over West Ham, were given anything but a warm welcome. One of Dyche’s alterations, Douglas Luiz, thought he gave Forest the lead when he bundled a volley beneath Wrexham shot-stopper Arthur Okonkwo, but it was disallowed, due to the ball striking the summer signing’s arm before.
With no VAR available, referee Paul Tierney was not even able to have a second look at the goal, despite the Juventus loanee’s biggest protestations.
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Fellow summer purchase Omari Hutchinson was then dispossessed by Wrexham’s George Dobson, who then shovelled the ball onto Liberato Cacace, allowing the New Zealand international to find the bottom corner from 20 yards.
The Racecourse Ground had barely stopped celebrating before they doubled their lead through Oliver Rathbone, who received a short pass from Nathan Broadhead, cut inside Morato and passed an effort through the hands of Matz Sels.
But the Forest skipper for the evening kept his side in it on the stroke of half-time with an impressive stop from Sam Smith, who should have scored having been played through one-on-one.
Dyche introduced Morgan Gibbs-White, Neco Williams and Nicolas Dominguez at half-time and an immediately improved Forest halved the deficit through a strong header from Igor Jesus. But the Championship side scored again through captain Dominic Hyam heading from a set-piece to restore their two-goal lead.
Callum Hudson-Odoi, who was brought on a matter of minutes before Wrexham’s third, immediately dragged Forest back into it with a smart, first-time finish. As Wrexham looked set to crown the Reynolds-McElhenney era with a FA Cup shock, Hudson-Odoi fired in a spectacular 91st minute half-volley to force extra-time.
In extra-time, Dan Scarr had a free header at the back post, but the corner was slightly too high and he could not divert it into the back post.
It looked ominous for Wrexham when James McClean skied his penalty but Okonkwo saved from Jesus before guessing correctly and beating away Hutchinson’s spot-kick to send the Racecourse Ground bonkers.
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