FA Cup Thriller: Exeter City's Brave Fight Against Nottingham Forest
Wow, what a game! Exeter City and Nottingham Forest served up an absolute FA Cup cracker last night, a 2-2 draw that ended in a nail-biting 4-2 penalty shootout victory for Forest. Played at St James Park, it was a match filled with more twists and turns than a rollercoaster – injuries, red cards, and some truly heroic performances from both sides. Honestly, who saw that coming?A Wild Ride from the Start
Exeter started like a house on fire, grabbing a shocking lead in the fifth minute. Josh Magennis pounced on a goalkeeper howler by Carlos Miguel – talk about an early gift! Forest, though, weren’t about to roll over. They fought back with goals from Ramon Sosa and Taiwo Awoniyi. Awoniyi’s goal was his second of the season, but it came at a heavy price. He suffered a nasty-looking collision, leaving the pitch with a concussion and a broken nose. Ouch! And just when you thought things couldn’t get any crazier, Willy Boly scored an own goal to level things up for Exeter, sending the game into extra time.Red Card Drama and Penalty Shootout
Extra time? Hold onto your hats! Things went from dramatic to downright chaotic when Exeter's Ed Turns was sent off in the 87th minute. A one-man disadvantage for the rest of the match and extra time? You know how sometimes things just spiral? Despite being down a player, Exeter somehow held on, forcing a penalty shootout. The tension was palpable.Injury Woes for Forest
Forest’s victory came at a cost. Besides Awoniyi’s horrifying injury, goalkeeper Carlos Miguel also had to be subbed off with a suspected hamstring problem before the hour mark. That’s a double whammy of injuries for Forest, leaving them with some serious concerns heading into their next matches. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo was clearly relieved by the win, but you could see the worry etched on his face talking about Awoniyi’s injury. He’s hoping for a speedy recovery for Miguel too.Exeter’s Magnificent Effort
Despite the loss, Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell was bursting with pride. He was rightly praising his team’s incredible commitment and teamwork. He talked about the special atmosphere at the supporter-owned club – it’s clear that everyone at Exeter is incredibly proud of their team. Caldwell summed it up perfectly: "We showed our potential and how special we are.” And they absolutely did.Post-Match Musings
Nuno Espirito Santo admitted it wasn’t Forest's best performance, but hey, a win's a win, right? He still managed to praise Awoniyi’s contribution despite his unfortunate injury. The match was a testament to Exeter's incredible resilience and fighting spirit. They truly never gave up.What's Next?
Nottingham Forest goes on to face Ipswich Town at home in the fifth round. As for Exeter City, this match is a massive confidence booster. It showed the world what they're capable of. The FA Cup is truly unpredictable; it's a competition where anything can happen, and this game was living proof of that.Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Exeter City vs Nottingham Forest FA Cup match? Nottingham Forest won 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
Were there any injuries in the match? Yes, Nottingham Forest had injuries to Taiwo Awoniyi (concussion and broken nose) and Carlos Miguel (suspected hamstring).
What was the final score? The final score was 2-2 (4-2 on penalties).
What league does Exeter City play in? Exeter City plays in League One.
