EXETER, England — In an intense FA Cup match on Tuesday, Nottingham Forest triumphed in a penalty shootout against third-tier Exeter City after the game concluded in a thrilling 2-2 draw.

Nottingham Forest, who hold the third position in the Premier League table, found themselves challenged at St James Park. The match kicked off with Exeter taking an early lead through Josh Magennis in the fifth minute, igniting hope for the home team.

However, Nottingham Forest responded strongly, with Ramon Sosa and Taiwo Awoniyi both scoring before the halftime whistle to give Forest a 2-1 advantage. Just five minutes after the second half began, Magennis struck again to equalize for Exeter, intensifying the competition on the pitch.

As the close contest wore on, tensions flared when Exeter’s Ed Turns received a red card in the 87th minute, leaving his team with 10 players. Despite the numerical advantage, Nottingham Forest struggled to capitalize and could not secure a winning goal during extra time. The match then proceeded to penalties to determine the victor.

In the shootout, Neco Williams emerged as the hero for Nottingham Forest, scoring the decisive penalty and sealing a 4-2 victory. The win propels Forest into the fifth round, where they are set to face Ipswich Town next.