Wrexham v Chelsea live: Blues narrowly avoid famous shock in thrilling FA Cup tie | OneFootball

(AFP via Getty Images)

Chelsea twice came from behind to avoid an FA Cup shock with a 4-2 extra-time victory at 10-man Wrexham.

With Hollywood 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 Stok Cae Ras through Sam Smith. A fortuitous own goal allowed the sluggish Londoners to equalise but the Red Dragons' 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 Joao Pedro secured Chelsea's quarter-final spot in extra time after the hosts had George Dobson sent off.

Wrexham 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.

'Tough one to take' for Wrexham

Wrexham defender Callum Doyle, who scored one goal and assisted the other, spoke to BBC Sport after the game.

“It is a tough one to take against a top side,” said Doyle. “I thought we did really well until the last part of the game. The sending off didn't help us.

On his goal: “It happened so fast. Josh [Windass] is fuming that I took it. It was just a little flick and it paid off!

“It is a big test, and they're a big side in the big leagues, and it is a good test for us against top players. We have another game on Tuesday, so we have to keep going.”

On aiming from promotion to the Premier League: “Hopefully, that is the target, but we have just got to stick at it.”

(AP)

Luke Baker7 March 2026 21:03

CLOSE! Wrexham 2-3 Chelsea, 120+1 mins

Oh, that was the chance! Surely it had to go in?

The ball falls to O’Brien on the edge of the Chelsea box and he tries to curl it first-time into the far corner but it slips agonisingly wide of Sanchez’s post. Some of the crowd were sure it was going in.

Luke Baker7 March 2026 20:28

Wrexham 2-3 Chelsea, 118 mins

Do Wrexham have anything left in their locker after that heartbreaking disallowing of the goal?

The crowd are livid here and tensions on the pitch are spilling over now. Kieffer Moore clatters Cucurella and then leans over his prone body to shout at him, much to the annoyance of the rest of the Chelsea players.

Moore gets a yellow card for his troubles and Garnacho is then also booked for waving an imaginary yellow card at the referee.

Luke Baker7 March 2026 20:26