Nottingham Forest survived an enormous FA Cup scare towards 10-player Exeter to win a penalty shoot-out after drawing 2-2 at St James Park.
Chris Wooden, Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson all scored from the spot earlier than fellow substitute Neco Williams wrapped up a marathon tie with the ultimate kick of the competition at 11.03pm.
Josh Magennis and Tony Yogane have been on track for League One Exeter, however Matz Sels saved Reece Cole’s poor penalty and Angus MacDonald struck the crossbar as Forest prevailed 4-2.
Forest, third within the Premier League and the highest-ranked group left within the FA Cup, will now play Ipswich at residence in spherical 5.
Magennis had scored twice for Exeter – the competitors’s high scorer in taking his whole to 6 – in giving the Grecians an early lead after which equalising at first of the second interval.
Ramon Sosa and Taiwo Awoniyi, who left the motion in stoppage time on a stretcher after being attended to by medics for a number of minutes, turned the tie in Forest’s favour.
Exeter debutant Ed Turns was handed a purple card for a thigh excessive problem on Gibbs-White three minutes from time, however Forest needed to settle for an additional half-hour after Jota Silva thundered a shot towards the crossbar.
Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo took the chance to relaxation nearly his total common beginning XI after his squad had spent the week away at a warm-weather coaching camp in Dubai.
Brazilian midfielder Danilo was the only survivor from the aspect which had demolished Brighton 7-0 final day trip.
Nuno’s group sheet supplied actual hope to Exeter – 59 locations beneath Forest on the soccer ladder – that they may replicate the giant-killing success of their Devon neighbours Plymouth, who had shocked Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday.
Exeter had not gained since their third-round victory over Oxford, shedding 4 of their 5 video games and conceding 10 objectives towards Leyton Orient and Stevenage of their earlier two outings.
An enormous banner with the phrases ‘Collectively We Can Create Historical past’ was held aloft on Exeter’s Massive Financial institution, the most important standing terrace in English soccer, as Grecians followers embraced the membership’s first fourth-round tie since 1981.
These supporters have been in a position to have a good time a dream begin when Carlos Miguel spilled Demetri Mitchell’s fifth-minute effort on the toes of Magennis.
The Northern Eire worldwide was probably in an offside place, however with no VAR in operation the objective stood.
Vincent Harper rushed again to clear off the road after Awoniyi had toed the ball previous Grecians goalkeeper Joe Whitworth.
But it surely was to be the briefest of reprieves for Exeter as moments later Ibrahim Sangare spied Sosa, and the Paraguayan discovered the web simply as he had performed within the third spherical towards Luton.
Whitworth pushed Awoniyi’s volley round a submit however the Forest ahead was to not be denied after 37 minutes.
Once more Sangare was the provider and Awoniyi was allowed to activate the sting of the field, work the ball onto his left foot, and discover the underside nook with Whitworth immobile.
Exeter equalised 5 minutes after the restart when Magennis rose highest at a nook to power Miguel right into a point-blank save.
Magennis was on the rebound in a flash and Willy Boly turned it into his personal web off a submit.
Miguel was quickly compelled off by means of harm and alternative Sels stood agency to forestall Ilmari Niskanen profiting one-on-one.
It was one-way site visitors in extra-time and Wooden was twice denied by Whitworth as Forest have been taken all the best way.
