Chelsea twice came from behind to avoid an FA Cup shock with a 4-2 extra-time victory at 10-man Wrexham on Saturday, in their first competitive encounter since 1982.
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior made nine changes to his starting lineup. From the team that began the Premier League fixture at Aston Villa on Wednesday night, only Jorrel Hato and Alejandro Garnacho retained their places. Filip Jorgensen, Wesley Fofana, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer were all left out of the squad.
Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez returned between the sticks, while Josh Acheampong, Tosin Adarabioyo and Benoit Badiashile were provided with rare starts. Romeo Lavia returned to the first XI for the first time since November 5, with Liam Delap starting down the centre of the attack.
Chelsea XI was made up of Sanchez, Acheampong, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Sarr; Hato, Lavia, Santos; Neto, Delap, Garnacho while in the bench were Sharman-Lowe, Gusto, James, Chalobah, Cucurella, Essugo, Derry, Guiu, Joao Pedro.
Meanwhile, Phil Parkinson made three changes to his Wrexham starting lineup for the game in North Wales. Zak Vyner, Ryan Longman and Sam Smith were introduced into the first XI while Issa Kabore, Nathan Broadhead and Kieffer Moore are the trio that was dropped out of the team.
Wrexham XI was made of Okonkwo; Cleworth, Hyam, Doyle; Longman, Dobson, Thomason, Rathbone, Vyner; O'Brien, Smith. Subs were Ward, Scarr, Brunt, Barnett, Keillor-Dunn, Windass, Broadhead, Rodriguez, Moore.
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 ambitious Welsh outfit were dreaming of a famous victory when they took the lead. The hosts took the lead on 18 minutes when a long ball undid the Blues' high line. Robert Sanchez was too hesitant against Sam Smith, who rolled the ball past the Spanish goalkeeper and into the bottom corner.
A fortuitous own goal allowed the sluggish Londoners to equalize 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 leveled for a second time.
In stoppage time, Wrexham were reduced to 10 men with George Dobson taken out. There was no separating the two teams after 90 minutes and the tie went to extra-time.
In the first half of extra-time, Garnacho gave Chelsea the advantage for the first time in the tie. Dario Essugo, a second-half substitute, delivered a fine cross to the Argentine, whose volley was excellent and left Okonkwo with no chance in the Wrexham goal.
Wrexham thought they equalised in the second half of extra-time with Lewis Brunt scoring from a corner, but he was adjudged to have been offside after a VAR check. Joao Pedro put the tie beyond any reasonable doubt with a slick finish in stoppage time of extra-time.
The FA Cup's fifth round will finish up on Monday with West Ham versus Brentford. Prior to that match, Chelsea will find out their quarterfinal opponent when the draw is held.
Wrexham currently sits in sixth place in the English Championship table, holding on to one of the four playoff places. The Red Dragons have won an unprecedented three consecutive promotions since 2023 and are looking to be one of the three teams from the division that will move up to the Premier League next season. Phil Parkinson's side will now go back to their main objective of achieving an unprecedented fourth straight promotion and a place alongside Chelsea in the Premier League.
