Arthur Okonkwo was the hero for The Reds, pulling off two crucial penalty saves to seal a stunning FA Cup third-round win for Wrexham CPD against Premier League side Nottingham Forest.
It was an unforgettable cup match as Wrexham FC and Nottingham Forest finished the normal 90 minutes with the score level at three goals each and then went to penalty kicks.
It was a special first half for the Reds as Liberato Cacace and then Ollie Rathbone scored two goals within three minutes of each other towards the end of the half. It was Cacace’s first goal in a red shirt and his fourth in seven games for Rathbone.
The second half was a fiery and eventful one. Igor Jesus scored to lift Nottingham Forest’s hopes but Dom Hyam put the Reds back two goals ahead. Nottingham Forest did not give up and substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi scored two without reply to level the scores.
Phil Parkinson made 4 changes to his team that started the game against Derby County. Dan Scarr, Liberato Cacace, George Dobson and Ollie Rathbone came into the team. There was room on the bench for George Thomason and Josh Windass but Matty James and Max Cleworth were rested.
Nottingham Forest had the first chance of the game as Dilane Bakwa crossed to Igor Jesus in the penalty area but he shot over the bar.
Almost every set was taken at the Racecourse and the crowd created a fiery atmosphere as the Reds battled for every ball. Sam Smith was working hard in attack and making a nuisance of himself.
Douglas Luiz turned the ball into Y Cochion’s net but it was disallowed because he controlled the ball and his arm before scoring.
After twenty minutes Ollie Rathbone had Wrexham CPD’s first chance as he fired powerfully from the side of the penalty area but the ball bounced off a defender and past the post.
With 25 minutes of the half played, Douglas Luiz whipped a free kick towards the far post but the Reds defense dealt well with his dangerous shot.
The Reds had the next chance as Nathan Broadhead started a counter attack in his own half. He ran into the Nottingham Forest half before passing to Sam Smith on the left. Smith took a touch and then shot towards the Matz Sels goal but his shot went wide of the post.
Wrexham FC had a good five minutes after Smith’s chance as they controlled possession and put pressure on the Nottingham Forest defence.
With less than 10 minutes to play in the half, George Dobson won the ball on the edge of the Forest penalty area. The ball fell into the path of Liberato Cacace, he moved to his right foot and struck low and powerfully into the right corner of Matz Sels, scoring his first goal for the Reds.
The Reds continued to put pressure on the Nottingham Forest players and the effort paid off. With five minutes of the half to play, Broadhead won the ball in the Nottingham Forest half and passed on to Ollie Rathbone.
The ball bounced off Morato and back into the path of Rathbone who was in the penalty area. Rathbone curled his shot low past Selz to double the Reds’ advantage.
The crowd were delighted with the performance and Sam Smith almost sent the crowd crazy as Rathbone released him to run alone towards Selz, but the goalkeeper stood his ground and saved well.
Wrexham CPD went into the break two goals ahead.
Before the second half started, Sean Dyche responded by sending 3 substitutes to the field with Morgan Gibbs-White, Nicolas Dominguez and Neco Williams replacing Dilane Bakwa, James McAtee and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Douglas Luiz had the first chance of the second half as he sent a free kick towards the top corner of the goal but Okonkwo saved brilliantly pushing the ball over the bar.
The Reds continued to try to create opportunities and with almost an hour of play Broadhead attacked brilliantly down the left wing. He combined brilliantly with Ollie Rathbone and then Broadhead fired towards goal but Sels saved well.
With their best cross into the penalty area of the game, Nottingham Forest scored as Igor Jesus jumped the highest and headed past Okonkwo and into the back of the net.
Phil Parkinson sent two of his substitutes onto the field with 20 minutes to go. Windass and O’Brien came on for Broadhead and Rathbone.
Minutes later, Windass won a free kick on the right flank. Dobson sent a whip of a cross into the penalty area, between the goalkeeper and the defenders and Dom Hyam was then to head past Sels to give the Reds a two goal lead once again.
Nottingham Forest did not give up and two minutes later Callum Hudson-Odoi scored, after coming on as a substitute, as he shot with his right foot from close to the spot.
With a minute to go, the substitute silenced the crowd once again as he controlled the ball brilliantly on his chest then shot over Okonkwo and into the back of the net to level the scores.
The second half ended with the score equal, so there was 30 minutes of extra time to play.
Unfortunately, Sam Smith had to leave the field with an injury but Jay Rodriguez came on in his place. Dan Scarr headed past the post for the Reds and Okonkwo saved Neco Williams’ powerful shot in a competitive first half of added time.
Windass had a chance early in the second half of extra time but was inches from reaching a long pass into the penalty area.
Murillo shot wildly past the post from a free kick for Nottingham Forest but chances were few and far between as the players tired. Okonkwo saved low to his left from Hutchinson’s shot in the last minutes and so the game had to end with penalties.
Arthur Okonkwo was the hero of The Reds as he brilliantly saved two penalty kicks and ensured that Wrexham FC progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup!
About The Author
