Wrexham Stuns Hull City In Dramatic FA Cup Quarterfinal Upset

Wrexham Stuns Hull City In Dramatic FA Cup Quarterfinal Upset...

Wrexham AFC, the Welsh football club co-owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, pulled off a stunning 2-1 victory over Championship side Hull City in the FA Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday. The match, played at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground, saw the National League underdogs advance to the semifinals for the first time since 1997.

The victory is trending in the U.S. due to Reynolds' and McElhenney's celebrity involvement, which has drawn American attention to the club's Cinderella story. The actors, who purchased Wrexham in 2020, were visibly emotional in the stands as their team secured the historic win.

Wrexham took an early lead through Paul Mullin's 12th-minute penalty before Hull equalized just before halftime. The decisive goal came in the 78th minute when substitute Ollie Palmer headed home from close range, sending the 10,000-strong home crowd into raptures.

The match was broadcast live on ESPN+ in the U.S., contributing to its stateside popularity. Social media platforms exploded with reactions, particularly from American fans who have followed Wrexham's journey through the FX docuseries "Welcome to Wrexham."

Hull City, currently mid-table in England's second tier, fielded a strong lineup but were ultimately outplayed by their determined opponents. Wrexham goalkeeper Ben Foster, a former Premier League veteran, made several crucial saves to preserve the lead.

The victory sets up a potential dream semifinal matchup against Premier League opposition at Wembley Stadium. Wrexham becomes the first non-league team to reach the FA Cup semifinals since 1914, adding to the tournament's reputation for giant-killing drama.

Post-match, Reynolds tweeted "I'm not crying, you're crying" to his 21 million followers, while McElhenney called it "the greatest night of my life." The club's Cinderella run has captured imaginations on both sides of the Atlantic, with U.S. soccer fans particularly invested in the Hollywood-backed underdog story.

Wrexham's next challenge comes in the National League promotion race, where they currently sit second. The FA Cup semifinal draw will be held Sunday, with the matches scheduled for April at Wembley.