play0:59Wrexham survive in penalties to move on in FA CupWrexham top Nottingham Forest in penalties to advance to the next round of the FA Cup.
Phil Parkinson reacts to Wrexham’s FA Cup win over Nottingham Forest (1:04)Phil Parkinson speaks after Wrexham’s penalty shootout win over Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup. (1:04)
Wrexham survive in penalties to move on in FA CupWrexham top Nottingham Forest in penalties to advance to the next round of the FA Cup.
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson hailed their “special” FA Cup giant-killing triumph over the Premier League’s Nottingham Forest and expressed his delight that the Welsh club’s movie star owner Ryan Reynolds was there to see it.
Wrexham won 4-3 on penalties to reach the fourth round of the competition after drawing 3-3, having led 2-0 and 3-1 in a thrilling tie.
“I think Ryan’s mum was here tonight, which was for the first time. So it’s really special and I hope they’ve enjoyed the night.
Friday’s win over last season’s FA Cup semifinalists was another memorable chapter in the rise of Wrexham, which was bought in 2021 by Reynolds and fellow actor Rob Mac.
The stars have overseen Wrexham’s rapid ascent and watched three consecutive promotions. The club sits ninth in the second-tier Championship, and Friday’s win was its fifth in a row in all competitions.
Wrexham have engineered many famous FA Cup upsets over the years, with Arsenal, Newcastle United and West Ham United among their victims, but this was the first time they had beaten top-tier opposition in the competition for 26 years.
“I always want us to acquit ourselves well when these big days come, and I felt we did,” Parkinson told ESPN. “Unlucky not to win in normal time and I felt it deflated us like it’s naturally going to happen.
“We went into extra time and there was a feeling of acceptance almost in the ground and in the team, and we had to raise ourselves again.
“And credit to the lads for the character, because after the Christmas period to go into extra time against a Premier League team is one almighty effort, from both sides, but from us in particular playing against a team of the pedigree of Nottingham Forest.”
Wrexham top Nottingham Forest in penalties to advance to the next round of the FA Cup.
Liberato Cacace and Oliver Rathbone scored in the space of three first-half minutes to give Wrexham a 2-0 interval lead at STōK Cae Ras.
Forest substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi took the tie into extra time with two classy finishes, the second in the 89th minute, but goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo proved the Wrexham hero with brilliant shootout stops from Jesus and Omari Hutchinson.
The FA Cup kicked off in August with 446 clubs dreaming of a place in the famous final at Wembley Stadium, but teams from the top two tiers enter only at this third round.
Phil Parkinson reacts to Wrexham’s FA Cup win over Nottingham Forest (1:04)Phil Parkinson speaks after Wrexham’s penalty shootout win over Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup. (1:04)
Phil Parkinson speaks after Wrexham’s penalty shootout win over Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup. (1:04)
Igor Jesus replied for Forest before Dominic Hyam restored the Red Dragons’ two-goal lead.
Information from PA and The Associated Press was used in this report.