Gideon Kodua's late winner saved Luton Town’s blushes and denied Forest Green Rovers a famous comeback in a seven-goal Emirates FA Cup classic.
Jack Wilshere’s Luton were seemingly set for a comfortable night when Lamine Fanne’s strike and a Nakhi Wells double saw them take a 3-0 lead early in the second half.
However, Forest Green - who are 43 places below Luton in the football pyramid - staged a remarkable comeback and almost sent the game to extra time.
In just seven minutes, Tom Knowles bent a brilliant shot into the far corner and Kyle McAllister slotted home a penalty to make it 3-2 and set the nerves jangling inside Kenilworth Road.
Forest Green, roared on by manager Robbie Savage, pressed forwards and found a dramatic equaliser 11 minutes from time as Aidan Dausch rifled a low effort into the net after pinball inside the penalty box.
They almost won it when Laurent Mendy's header hit the bar but Luton regained their composure and delivered a decisive blow in the 92nd minute when Kodua smashed in from 12 yards out.
AND IT'S LUTON WHO GO BACK AHEAD AT THE DEATH 🤯
Kodua is the man of the moment for Jack Wilshere's Hatters in added time, breaking the hearts of Forest Green Rovers.
What. A. Game.
What the FA Cup is all about!
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/bMKXMqL8iR
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 31, 2025
Forest Green almost equalised again but Dausch missed an excellent chance to volley home from close range – leaving Luton to breath a sigh of relief.
If this match is anything to by, it is set to be a sensational weekend of Emirates FA Cup action.
Luton have been inconsistent in League One this season, winning six and losing six of their 13 games, but arrived off the back of their first win under Wilshere last week.
Robbie Savage 🤝 Jack Wilshere#EmiratesFACup
📺 Watch live on @footballontnt and @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/vA4xqyLrQ4
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) October 31, 2025
They started positively in front of the TNT Sports cameras and should have taken the lead mid-way through the first half. A slick passing move opened up the Forest Green defence but an unmarked Fanne dragged his shot wide when he really should have scored
As it turned out, that was just a sighter for his next attempt. In an almost carbon copy move, Wells escaped down the right and pulled the ball back for Fanne, who this time guided his shot into the bottom corner.
Jack Wilshere's Luton take the lead ⚽️
Great build up play down the right, and Lamine Fanne is on hand to finish at give Luton a 1-0 lead 💥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/fTbKliKmtk
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 31, 2025
Luton doubled their lead seven minutes later as Wells prodded the ball in after goalkeeper Fiachra Pagel spilt a Cohen Bramall free-kick, and they should have had a third but the big striker volleyed wide from six yards.
Forest Green regained their composure before half time and almost pulled one back from a well-worked corner. The visitors took it short and worked the ball to Jili Buyabu with two snappy passes on the floor, but his low shot from the centre of the box was blocked by Teden Mengi when destined for the net.
Luton were more clinical and they made it 3-0 in the 53rd minute as Wells tapped into an open goal after Fanne squared the ball following an excellent pass from Isaiah Jones.
However, just as it appeared the Hatters were set for a comfortable second half, Forest Green hit back.
Knowles cut in from the left wing and curled a brilliant shot past Josh Keeley, via a slight deflection, in the 61st minute before Harry Whitwell was tripped by Mengi in the box and McAllister whipped the resulting penalty into the bottom corner.
Luton were understandably jittery and Forest Green took advantage, as Dausch hammered the ball through a pile of bodies into the net after Luton failed to clear.
THE COMEBACK IS COMPLETE 🤯
Forest Green were 3-0 down after an hour... it's taken 18 minutes for them to get level to 3-3 as Aidan Dausch fires home 🤩
WHAT A GAME 🧨
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/6UA2GxW9M5
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 31, 2025
Luton were stunned and Forest Green seemed the more likely winners. Captain Mendy cannoned the bar with a close-range header, while Knowles hammered over from 12 yards.
However, they regained their composure to sneak the winner as Kodua finished off a nice Jerry Yates pass.
A desperate Forest Green hunted another late equaliser and Dausch should have found it but mistimed a volley from six yards with the goal gaping.