FA Cup 2025-26: Wrexham eliminates Nottingham Forest in third round thriller

Second-tier Wrexham defeated Nottingham Forest on penalties after a 3-3 draw to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup on Friday, eliminating a Premier League side for the first time in 26 years in a new chapter of the Hollywood story.

Goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo was the hero for the hosts, saving Forest’s fifth penalty from Omari Hutchinson to secure the win.

«It was great to win the match in the end. We just have to enjoy the moment,» Okonkwo said TNT Sports.

Wrexham’s Liberato Cacace and Oliver Rathbone scored in quick succession in the first half, and the home side looked on course for victory with a 3-1 lead in a breathless second half before Callum Hudson-Odoi struck in the 76th and 89th minutes.

Forest boss Sean Dyche had selected a virtual reserve team with eight changes from Tuesday’s Premier League victory over West Ham United.

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But he sent reinforcements in the form of Neco Williams, Nicolas Dominguez and Morgan Gibbs-White for the second half, and it paid off when Igor Jesus pulled one back in the 64th minute, nodding a cross off the post.

Dominic Hyam restored Wrexham’s two-goal lead when he dived home a free-kick in the 74th minute, before Hudson-Odoi’s heroics.

But Wrexham had the upper hand in the shootout after extra time ended goalless and the win was another highlight for a team that has risen from non-league football to the second tier in three seasons under the guidance of Hollywood A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Canadian Reynolds was at the match on Friday.

“The boys rallied and there were a lot of tired legs among both teams. All credit to both sides for putting on such a good game after such a busy Christmas schedule,” said Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson.

An angry Dyche gave a scathing review of his starters.

“The first half was completely unacceptable,” he said TNT. «I let the players know. Certain individuals certainly know that. They will have to look in the mirror.»

«But the strangeness of the football, the players coming on in the second half, I think was a credit. We carried on and looked like a Premier League side.»

«But you can’t do that in the first half. It’s one of those, they’re all knocking on your door and saying, ‘Why am I not playing?’ Well, the evidence was frankly there for some, not for all.”

Championship side ⁠Oxford United defeated League Two’s MK Dons on penalties after their match ended 1-1, while a number of League One teams continued, with Wigan Athletic beating Championship side Preston North End 1-0 and Port Vale beating League Two’s Fleetwood Town 1-0.

Holders Crystal Palace will go to non-league Macclesfield Town, the lowest ranked team remaining in the competition, in one of 18 matches on Saturday.

Published on January 10, 2026