Chelsea fought back twice to secure a dramatic 4-2 extra-time victory against 10-man Wrexham in the FA Cup on Saturday, avoiding what could have been an upset.
With celebrity owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney watching, the spirited Welsh side took an early lead at the lively STōK Cae Ras through Sam Smith, igniting hopes of an upset.
Chelsea managed to level the score thanks to an unexpected own goal, but Wrexham regained their lead when Callum Doyle elegantly finished from a tight angle with just 12 minutes left on the clock.
However, Chelsea’s Josh Acheampong equalized once again, and in extra time, goals from Alejandro Garnacho and João Pedro sealed Chelsea’s route to the quarterfinals after Wrexham’s George Dobson was sent off.
Wrexham believed they had equalized again when Lewis Brunt found the net, but the goal was disallowed for a narrow offside following a VAR check, leaving the home fans heartbroken.
This defeat marks a bittersweet end to Wrexham’s impressive cup run, yet serves as another chapter in their remarkable rise.
Having already eliminated Premier League Nottingham Forest earlier in the tournament, Wrexham reached the FA Cup fifth round for the first time in 29 years.
Currently sixth in the EFL Championship, Phil Parkinson’s squad will shift their focus back to their primary objective of achieving a fourth consecutive promotion and joining Chelsea in the Premier League.
Reflecting on their near-upset of the reigning club world champions could provide extra motivation as they push towards the playoffs.
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With an upcoming Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea made nine changes to their lineup, resting key players such as Cole Palmer, Moisés Caicedo, and Enzo Fernández.
This led to a disjointed first-half performance, allowing Wrexham to capitalize.
Wrexham opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Smith received a long ball from Doyle and struck it powerfully past Robert Sánchez from 18 yards.
The equalizer came for Chelsea in the 40th minute in a fortunate manner when a shot from Garnacho, initially ineffective, was deflected into the net by goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo after being cleared off the line by George Thomason.
The second half was filled with chances for both teams, and Wrexham believed they should have received a penalty after a potential handball by Marc Guiu.
Wrexham regained the lead with Doyle’s instinctive finish, reacting quickly to flick a shot past Sánchez after a corner was not cleared.
However, Acheampong equalized just four minutes later, scoring after Dobson lost possession.
As Chelsea searched for a late winner, Neto hit the crossbar, and Dobson’s evening worsened when he received a red card following a VAR review for a challenge on Garnacho.
Max Cleworth almost clinched victory for Wrexham in stoppage time, but his shot was easily saved by Sánchez, paving the way for Chelsea to take control during extra time.
Garnacho scored a close-range volley from a cross by Dário Essugo.
Wrexham thought they had equalized again with a goal from Brunt, but VAR ruled him offside.
Despite continued pressure from Phil Parkinson’s team, Pedro sealed the victory for Chelsea.
PA contributed to this report.