Chelsea charged into the FA Cup quarter-finals after an enthralling 4-2 victory at the Racecourse ground against Premier League promotion contenders, Wrexham.
An electric atmosphere wrapped the Racecourse in a shared feeling of excitement as English giants Chelsea made the trip to North Wales in what the home side hoped to be a memorable ‘Giant Killing’ match.
The reality is, it wasn’t too far from the truth. Chelsea goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Josh Acheampong and Wrexham goals from Sam Smith and Callum Doyle meant the game carried on into extra time at two goals apiece.
However, on the brink of full time, George Dobson was flashed a red card after a short VAR review to pull Wrexham down to ten men.
This granted the Blues all the momentum they required and extra time goals from Garnacho and substitute, João Pedro saw Chelsea into a high scoring 4-2 victory.
Wrexham handed early breakthrough
A fully voiced Racecourse ground welcomed Chelsea to North Wales and an unsettled first quarter of an hour awaited both sides. However, just as Chelsea appeared to settle into the fixture, Wrexham striker, Sam Smith chased a lofted through ball and passed the ball beyond Robert Sanchez and into the Chelsea net to mark the opener.
Despite falling behind, Chelsea appeared to gain no real urgency from the setback and a fairly tame 20 minutes followed.
Chelsea lash back
As Chelsea started pressing forward, Liam Delap found himself holding up the ball on a dangerous counter attack. He managed to wiggle out of a challenge and find a precise through ball to the feet of the ever electric Garnacho.
After some quality footwork, Alejandro cut in for a close range shot that couldn’t bypass Wrexham defender George Thompson, but deflected off goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo in the Wrexham net and secured an equaliser.
The referee’s whistle concluded the half and both teams returned to their respective dressing rooms on level terms.
Second half adaptations
A first Chelsea change was made with an attacking intent as Marc Guiu replaced defender Mamadou Sarr in an evident formation change that saw the Blues move into a traditional 4-4-2 lineup.
Only two minutes after Guiu’s entrance, a handball complaint was charged against the Spaniard in the penalty area, however it amounted to nothing. This was met by a lethal Chelsea counter attack that saw an energised Jorrel Hato roll the ball wide of the far post.
This was followed up by a further two substitutions for the visitors that saw Hato and Romeo Lavia make way for both Marc Cucurella and Dario Essugo, both of whom returning from injuries.
Wrexham saw this as a suitable opportunity to make their first changes of the game that saw looming striker Kieffer Moore replace Sam Smith as well as Josh Windass on for Ollie Rathbone.
Wrexham abused Moore’s height as their superpower and began launching crosses into a frenzied Chelsea penalty area in a hopeful effort to find the prolific head of Kieffer.
Wrexham regain lead
Regardless, Chelsea were determined to maintain dominance and into the final 20 minutes, Garnacho let loose a swinging shot that was comfortably claimed by Okonkwo.
On the opposite end of the field, Wrexham had an outside-the-box opportunity that was fired inwards to the feet of Callum Doyle who flicked the ball beyond Robert Sanchez and to pull ahead with 12 minutes remaining on the clock.
Chelsea pull level and Wrexham see red
However, Wrexham’s lead wasn’t destined to last and only two minutes later, Josh Acheampong fired an accurate effort into the top corner to pull the game level once again.
In a late effort to find a winner, Chelsea replaced Liam Delap with proven goalscorer, João Pedro as well as Malo Gusto on for goalscorer, Josh Acheampong.
As Chelsea looked to counter attack in the 92nd minute, Alejandro Garnacho flew forward with a dedicated intent to score, however, George Dobson flew in on the Argentine winger with a high and reckless challenge and after a brief VAR Review, Dobson’s initially yellow card was flipped to red.
Extra time loomed
To Chelsea’s dismay with a midweek UCL game on Wednesday, the game progressed into extra time and Wrexham’s Hollywood stars could practically taste a place in the quarter finals!
Chelsea were desperate to capitalise on their (rare) numerical advantage and early strikes from Essugo and Andrey Santos were placed wide and collected by Okonkwo.
Garnacho then used his super speed to charge forward once again and delivered a ball that found the feet of Marc Guiu before it was cleared by a desperate Wrexham defence.
Garnacho was involved once again moments later, this time from a precise Essugo cross and the Argentine carefully placed the ball into the bottom corner on the volley in a seeming ‘illusion goal’ that bounced out of the net but put Chelsea ahead nevertheless.
Pedro Neto was then replaced by Chelsea youngster Jesse Derry in an effort to add fresh legs to the game in the dying embers.
Final stages
Wrexham were now desperate for a late equaliser and despite making two changes, a narrowly lofted free kick and even a disallowed headed goal, Chelsea were determined to hang on.
A late brawl between the two sides ticked down the clock for Chelsea as the game moved into added time.
O’Brien gave Liam Rosenior’s side a late scare with a curling strike however amounted to nothing and instead was responded to with a late Chelsea counter attack led by João Pedro who ran the length of the Wrexham half to eventually slot home a 15th goal of the season for the Brazilian and seal a Chelsea victory.
Lineups
Chelsea: Sanchez; Sarr, Tosin, Badiashile, Acheampong, Santos, Lavia, Hato, Neto, Garnacho, Delap
Wrexham: Okonkwo; Cleworth, Hyam, Doyle, Longman, Vyner, Dobson, Thomason, Rathbone, O'Brien, Smith
Next Up
Chelsea head to Paris for a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie against reigning champions, PSG.
Next Round
Chelsea move into the FA Cup quarter finals where they will discover their opponents in Monday night’s cup draw.