Wrexham ousts EPL's Forest in FA Cup upset

Wrexham celebrated victory over Premier League opposition for the first time in 26 years, as they beat last season's semifinalists Nottingham Forest in a penalty shootout in the FA Cup third round on Friday.

The Welsh club, which has endured a meteoric rise with three straight promotions to England's second tier under celebrity owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, scored another memorable moment at the STōK Cae Ras to move into the last 32 of the world's oldest cup competition.

Reynolds was watching from the stands as Wrexham twice moved into two-goal leads only to be pegged back by the team sitting 17th in England's top tier.

With the teams unable to be separated at 3-3 after 30 minutes of extra time, the matchup moved to penalties, where Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo was the hero with two saves to give his side a 4-3 win.

Wrexham's last win over a team from the Premier League came with victory over Middlesbrough at the same third-round stage of the FA Cup in December 1999.

First-half goals from Liberato Cacace and Oliver Rathbone gave Wrexham early control and had Reynolds trading high-fives and hugs from his vantage point in the main stand.

Igor Jesus cut the deficit before Dominic Hyam's diving header restored Wrexham's two-goal advantage with 16 minutes remaining.

Forest looked dead and buried, but substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi produced two outstanding finishes, the equalizer coming in the 89th minute.

Okonkwo saved from Igor Jesus and Omari Hutchinson in the shootout after Josh Windass, Callum Doyle, George Thomason and Jay Rodriguez had converted from the spot.

Although Wrexham have won three successive promotions to go from non-league to the Championship, this was the first time since being taken over by Reynolds and Mac nearly five years ago they had met Premier League opposition.

Forest made eight changes after beating West Ham on Tuesday, with goalkeeper Matz Sels, Jesus and Hutchinson remaining and Wales international Neco Williams on a stacked bench at his local club.

Kieffer Moore was not risked after injury as Wrexham sought to extend a four-game winning streak that had taken them a point from the Championship playoff places.

Forest started on the front foot with Jesus shooting over, and Douglas Luiz found the net after 17 minutes.

Referee Paul Tierney initially awarded the goal but then ruled it out after deciding Luiz had controlled the ball with his arm before volleying home.

Wrexham had been tidy in possession without a cutting edge, but that was to change in the final 10 minutes of the first half.

Sam Smith dragged wide before Cacace took advantage after 37 minutes to drive home his maiden Wrexham goal from 20 yards aided by the faintest of deflections off Morato's heel.

Wrexham smiles were even wider three minutes later as Rathbone broke through Morato's challenge to fire in his third goal in four games.

It should have been three -- and possibly contest over -- when Smith scampered through the Forest half unchecked but failed to beat Sels' outstretched leg.

Forest boss Sean Dyche made a triple substitution at halftime with Williams, Morgan Gibbs-White and Nicolás Domínguez sent on to salvage the situation.

The visitors were instantly more fluid as Okonkwo tipped over Luiz's free kick and kept out Nicolo Savona's strike.

Sels saved well from Broadhead, but Forest were in the ascendancy and struck when Savona set up the leaping Jesus for a header that hit the post and just about crossed the line.

The drama rose as Hyam headed in a superb George Dobson free kick and Hudson-Odoi swept home 60 seconds later to set up a grandstand finish.

Hudson-Odoi took the tie into extra time in fantastic fashion, taking a touch on his chest and lofting a perfect volley over Okonkwo, but Wrexham were not to be denied.

Information from PA was used in this report.