Chelsea twice came from behind to avoid an FA Cup shock with a 4-2 extra-time victory at 10-man Wrexham on Saturday.
With celebrity owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac in attendance, the ambitious Welsh outfit were dreaming of a famous victory when they took the lead at a raucous STōK Cae Ras through Sam Smith.
A fortuitous own goal allowed the sluggish Londoners to equalise but Wrexham’s hopes were rekindled with an improvised finish from Callum Doyle 12 minutes from time.
Yet it was not to be as Josh Acheampong levelled for a second time and Alejandro Garnacho and João Pedro secured Chelsea’s quarterfinal spot in extra time after the hosts had George Dobson sent off.
The home side felt they deserved more and thought they had made it 3-3 before Pedro’s late strike through Lewis Brunt but his effort was ruled narrowly offside by VAR in a pulsating finish.
It was a heartbreaking way for Wrexham’s cup run to end but, nevertheless, the occasion marked another notable chapter in their remarkable rise.
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.
But 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.
And the memory of how they came close to upsetting the reigning club world champions could also sustain them through their playoff push.\
Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
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.
Their direct approach paid off after 18 minutes as Smith latched onto a long ball from Doyle and placed a firm shot beyond Robert Sánchez from 18 yards.
Chelsea’s equaliser came against the run of play after 40 minutes and involved a huge slice of luck.
Liam Delap did well to turn and break from halfway but Garnacho’s shot looked ineffective until it was hacked off the line by George Thomason and rebounded into the net off goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo.
The second half was an end-to-end affair and both sides had numerous chances.
Wrexham felt they should have had a penalty when a shot from Ollie Rathbone appeared to strike the arm of Marc Guiu.
The hosts dramatically reclaimed the lead with Doyle’s brilliant, instinctive finish. Josh Windass fired a shot into a crowded area after Chelsea failed to clear a corner and Doyle reacted brilliantly to flick past Sánchez.
But they were in front for just four minutes as Acheampong slammed into the roof of the net after Dobson lost possession.
Neto fired against the crossbar as Chelsea sought a late winner and Dobson’s night got worse as he was sent off following a VAR review for a high challenge on Garnacho.
Max Cleworth might have snatched victory for the 10 men in stoppage time but his powerful strike was too close to Sanchez and Chelsea made their advantage tell in the first period of extra time.
Garnacho volleyed in from close range from a Dário Essugo cross.
Wrexham thought they had made it 3-3 when Brunt turned in from Kieffer Moore’s glancing header but he was just offside.
Phil Parkinson’s men kept on pushing but Pedro had the final say.
PA contributed to this report.
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