Nottingham Forest 2 Fulham 4Tomasz Radzinski's late double rescued Fulham from embarrassment in an extra-time thriller at the City Ground. Radzinski denied Championship strugglers Nottingham Forest a shock win when he cancelled out Marlon King's earlier effort with four minutes left of normal time.
Then Radzinski and Brian McBride swept the Premiership side ahead early in the extra period, before Andy Reid's strike set up a grandstand finish.
Andy Cole's neat chip over Paul Gerrard finally settled matters two minutes from the end of extra time.
Forest had performed far better than their dreadful league form which has left them marooned second from bottom of the table. And they could have forced a dramatic shoot-out when substitute Gareth Taylor headed wide of an open goal six minutes from the end, before Cole grabbed the fourth.
Joe Kinnear's side performed admirably against a Fulham side who have consistently stated the importance of their cup campaign. They almost caught the visitors on the break in the 12th minute when King set up Reid and his powerful rising shot from the edge of the box was parried by Mark Crossley.
After the restart Forest continued in positive fashion with Reid almost catching out Crossley with a curling long-range effort.
King must have thought he had won it for Forest in the 71st minute, when he forced the ball over the line after Reid's ball caused problems in the box.
But in a frantic end to normal time Radzinski equalised with four minutes to spare, then both sides spurned glorious chances to win it through John Thompson and McBride.
NOTTM FOREST: Gerrard, Louis-Jean (Perch 20), Rogers, Morgan, Dawson, Commons (Taylor 45), Evans, Thompson, Reid, Johnson, King, Perch (Jess 96). Subs Not Used: Roche, Robertson. Booked: Perch, Thompson, Evans, Dawson. Goals: King 71, Reid 104.
FULHAM: Crossley, Volz, Bocanegra, Rehman, Knight, Boa Morte, Pembridge, Diop (McBride 80), Malbranque (Legwinski 120), Radzinski (Rosenior 120), Cole. Subs Not Used: Van der Sar, Hammond. Booked: Cole, Volz. Goals: Radzinski 86, 93, McBride 101, Cole 119.
Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire).
