Chelsea twice came from behind to avoid an FA Cup shock with a 4-2 extra-time victory at 10-man Wrexham on Saturday. The Championship side mounted a serious challenge to the reigning club world champions on home soil, but ultimately fell short in a pulsating contest at STōK Cae Ras.
The Red Dragons got off to the perfect start on 18 minutes when Sam Smith raced on to Callum Doyle's long ball and calmly rolled a neat finish beyond a hesitant Robert Sanchez. The early goal set the tone for an encounter where the hosts pressed their advantage against a Chelsea team that had fielded a heavily rotated lineup.
With Wednesday's Champions League trip to Paris Saint-Germain in mind, Chelsea made nine changes and left the likes of Cole Palmer, Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández at home.Consequently their first-half display was disjointed and Wrexham took advantage. Yet Chelsea's quality emerged just before the interval.Garnacho's shot was hacked off the line by George Thomason but his clearance crashed into the back of goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo and rebounded into his own net.
The second half delivered end-to-end football, with both sides fashioning opportunities.Wrexham's hopes were rekindled with an improvised finish from Callum Doyle 12 minutes from time.Doyle expertly redirected Josh Windass's strike past Sanchez. For four minutes, Wrexham's travelling support dared to dream of a famous victory.Josh Acheampong leveled for a second time just as the match seemed destined for a penalty shootout.
Disaster struck in stoppage time.George Dobson received a straight red card for a reckless challenge in stoppage time following a VAR review, tipping the balance decisively in Chelsea's favour.Alejandro Garnacho hooked in a volley to put them on the path to the last eight during extra time.There was no late plot twist as substitute Lewis Brunt's header was ruled out by VAR for offside.Chelsea then rubbed salt in their wounds when substitute Joao Pedro scored a lovely solo goal deep into stoppage time.
Wrexham, who had already knocked out Premier League Nottingham Forest in this year's competition, were playing in the FA Cup fifth round for the first time in 29 years. The result, while disappointing, need not derail their primary objective.Phil Parkinson's side, currently sitting sixth in England's second tier, will now go back to their main objective of achieving an unprecedented fourth straight promotion and a place alongside Chelsea in the Premier League.
For Wrexham and their high-profile ownership, this result offers a sobering reminder of the gap between the Championship and the Premier League. The battle scars, however, could yet prove valuable as they push toward promotion.The memory of how they came close to upsetting the reigning club world champions could also sustain them through their playoff push.