Goals
- Liberato Cacace – 37’ – Wrexham
- Ollie Rathbone – 40’ – Wrexham
- Igor Jesus – 64’ – Nottingham Forest
- Dominic Hyam – 74’ – Wrexham
- Callum Hudson-Odoi – 83’ – Nottingham Forest
- Callum Hudson-Odoi – 89’ – Nottingham Forest
Penalty shootout: Wrexham 4–3 Nottingham Forest
Saved penalties: Igor Jesus, Omari Hutchinson (saved by Arthur Okonkwo)
Match report
Wrexham produced a memorable FA Cup upset by knocking out Premier League Nottingham Forest after a pulsating 3–3 draw and a 4–3 penalty shootout success. It was the Welsh club’s first win over top-flight opposition in 26 years and another milestone in their extraordinary rise through the divisions.
With co-owner Ryan Reynolds watching from the stands, the night unfolded with high drama. Wrexham twice established two-goal cushions but were pulled back by Forest, who forced extra time through Callum Hudson-Odoi’s brilliance before falling in the shootout.
The decisive moments came from Arthur Okonkwo, who saved penalties from Igor Jesus and Omari Hutchinson, ensuring the home side progressed despite one miss of their own. The goalkeeper’s performance drew admiration, as one line from Phil Parkinson neatly captured the mood: “Arthur is a colossus.”
Narrative of the match
The first half shifted decisively in Wrexham’s favour. After a disallowed Forest effort, the hosts struck twice in quick succession. Liberato Cacace drove in from distance in the 37th minute, his first goal for the club, before Ollie Rathbone added a second in the 40th minute, capitalising on loose defending to finish calmly.
Forest improved after the interval and finally broke through when Igor Jesus headed in on 64 minutes. Just as momentum appeared to have swung, Wrexham re-established control. A superb delivery from a set piece allowed Dominic Hyam to make it 3–1 with a diving header in the 74th minute.
Yet the Premier League side refused to yield. Substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi transformed the contest, first narrowing the gap in the 83rd minute and then equalising with a sublime chest-and-volley finish in the 89th minute to force extra time.
The additional 30 minutes brought tension rather than clear chances, with both teams visibly fatigued. Penalties became inevitable, and there Okonkwo delivered. His two saves sealed a 4–3 shootout victory, sparking celebrations inside the STōK Cae Ras and writing a new chapter in Wrexham’s FA Cup story.
Statistics and key details
- Final score: Wrexham 3–3 Nottingham Forest (Wrexham win 4–3 on penalties)
- Wrexham twice held a two-goal lead
- Hudson-Odoi scored twice as a substitute
- Okonkwo made two penalty saves in the shootout
- First Wrexham win over Premier League opposition in 26 years
- Match went to 30 minutes of extra time before penalties
Post-match context
The win extends Wrexham’s strong run of form and sends them into the competition’s last 32 with renewed belief. For Forest, wholesale changes and a late fightback were not enough, and attention now turns back to league priorities.
Phil Parkinson summed up the occasion succinctly, saying it was “a great night” while emphasising that the team had “made our own bit of history.”
