FA Cup
5:45 p.mMarch 7, 2026
Round of 16
Racecourse
Referee: Peter Bankes, England
Wrexham
Chelsea
Turn off the spoiler to see match stats
0.00
Expected Goals (xG)
0.00
Passing by
352 (79%)
Accurate passes
916 (92%)
Turn off the spoiler to see the events of the match
G
Arthur Okonkwo
40′
d
Callum Doyle
78′
18′
5
d
Dominic Hyam (C)
6.3
4
d
Max Cleworth
6.6
M
George Thomason
101′ StumbledM
George Dobson
90+3′ rough
26
M
Zak Vyner
6.6
47
M
Ryan Longman
6.3
27
F
Lewis O’Brien
8.0
20
F
Oliver Rathbone
6.5
1
G
Robert Sanchez
6.9
5
d
Benoît Badiashile
7.0
4
d
Tosin Adarabioyo (C)
7.5
19
d
Mamadou Sarr
6.5
21
M
Jorrel Hato
6.7
M
Romeo Lavia
23′ HoldingM
Andrei Santos
110′ Game delayM
Josh Acheampong
82′
F
Alexandre Garnacho
96′
120′ Unsportsmanlike conduct
7
F
Pedro Neto
6.7
9
F
Liam Delap
6.7
No ranking data available for this league
Chelsea emerged victorious from a thrilling FA Cup clash, defeating a resilient Wrexham 4-2 in extra time at the Racecourse Ground. Goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Joao Pedro sealed the Blues’ progress after a spectacular second half and a red card at the end of the last.
The magic of the FA Cup was palpable on a March night. Ambitious lower league side Wrexham hosted Premier League giants Chelsea, dreaming of a historic upset. The atmosphere at the racecourse was crackling with anticipation from the start.
Wrexham stunned the visitors in the 18th minute as Sam Smith latched on to a pinpoint pass from Callum Doyle, calmly slotting the ball past Robert Sanchez to give the home side the lead. The packed stadium erupted in celebration.
Chelsea pressed for an equaliser, but the Wrexham defense held firm. Romeo Lavia was shown a yellow card in the 23rd minute, reflecting Chelsea’s growing frustration. The home side defended bravely, limiting clear-cut chances.
Just before the break, fortunes turned Chelsea’s way. Unfortunately, goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo turned the ball into his own net in the 40th minute. This own goal leveled the scores, sending the two teams into the break at 1-1.
The second half began with renewed intensity, as both teams looked for an advantage. Chelsea made early substitutions, bringing in fresh legs to inject more pace into their attack. Wrexham maintained their defensive form.
Wrexham sensationally regained the lead in the 78th minute. Callum Doyle, already an assist provider, fired home a crucial goal from an assist from Josh Windass. The home crowd erupted once again, believing an upset was indeed possible.
Chelsea responded quickly, refusing to lie down. Just four minutes later, in the 82nd minute, Josh Acheampong equalized for the Blues. This tied the scores again, setting up a tense finish in normal time.
The match went into stoppage time, but a crucial moment changed the balance. In the 90+3 minute, Wrexham’s George Dobson received a straight red card for assault. The local team was reduced to ten men, facing extra time with a numerical disadvantage.
Chelsea took advantage of their extra man in the 96th minute. Alejandro Garnacho, an influential striker, scored after good work from Dário Essugo. This eventually put Chelsea ahead for the first time in the game.
Wrexham continued to fight bravely despite being a downed man. They even had a Lewis Brunt goal disallowed for offside in the 114th minute, a decision that could have changed the outcome. It was a breakthrough moment for the hosts.
With just seconds left in extra time, Chelsea sealed their progression. Joao Pedro found the back of the net on 120+5 minutes to secure a hard-fought 4-2 win for the Premier League visitors.
Chelsea dominated possession with 68% of the ball, registering a total of 20 shots with 6 on target. Wrexham, however, showed remarkable tenacity with 19 shots and 5 on target despite their lower share of possession.
This exciting FA Cup match saw Chelsea progress to the next round. Wrexham, despite being beaten, won immense praise for their spirited performance, pushing the Premier League side to the limit in a classic cup tie.
