Wrexham stuns Premier League opponent in FA Cup penalties with Ryan Reynolds in attendance in Wales

Billy Heyen

Wrexham stuns Premier League opponent in FA Cup penalties with Ryan Reynolds in attendance in Wales image

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They won't soon forget this night in Wrexham.

Co-owner Ryan Reynolds was in town for the occasion, and in the end, the Red Dragons got to party.

Matched up in the FA Cup Third Round with Premier League opposition Nottingham Forest, the Welsh hosts held a 2-0 lead, then a 3-1 lead, but they couldn't close out Forest in 90 minutes.

Forest sent the match to extra time at 3-3, and neither side scored in the extra period, and so penalties were on offer.

Wrexham and Forest each notched their first spot kick, but the second taker for Wrexham, James McLean, skied his attempt high and wide.

That's when Arthur Okonkwo evened things up with a brilliant save, diving to his right to deny Igor Jesus on Forest's second penalty.

Both sides made their third penalty attempts.

Both scored again in the fourth round, including Wrexham-born Nico Williams for Forest.

That set up the win-or-go-home fifth set of penalties.

Jay Rodriguez slotted in the fifth for Wrexham, who were shooting first.

And then there was Okonkwo, for the second time, this time diving left.

"And there is your Hollywood ending," said the broadcaster on ESPN+.

Wrexham is into the Fourth Round of the FA Cup, winners on penalties after the 3-3 deadlock over 120 minutes.

The penalties were taken in front of Wrexham's supporters, and immediately upon the winning save, the celebrations were on.

It continues a great season for Wrexham, which is just out of a playoff position currently in the second-tier Championship, in their first season this high up the English football ladder in decades. If they put together a strong second half of the season, they might soon be more than a second-division side.

On this night, they showed they can play with the top flight, too.

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Senior Editor