Chelsea struggled, came from behind twice, and ultimately defeated Wrexham 4-2 in extra time in the fifth round of the FA Cup at the Racecourse Ground. The London team had to fight from behind from the 18th minute, when Sam Smith opened the scoring for the home side with a left-footed shot from outside the area, assisted by Callum Doyle.

The Blues' response came before halftime. In the 40th minute, Alejandro Garnacho attacked down the left, took a shot, and the play ended in an own goal by Arthur Okonkwo to make it 1-1. With that goal, Chelsea found the equalizer in the first half, with Pedro Neto and Garnacho as their attacking outlets, though they were unable to turn the match around before the halftime whistle.

In the second half, Wrexham struck again. In the 78th minute, Callum Doyle appeared inside the area and scored to make it 2-1 following a corner kick and an assist from Josh Windass. The scenario became uphill again for Chelsea, who once again had to search for the equalizer and found it just four minutes later, in the 82nd minute, with a shot from Josh Acheampong from the center of the area to make it 2-2.

The closing of regulation time featured a play that marked the course of the match. In added time, George Dobson first saw a yellow card after a VAR review and then received a red card in the 90th+3 minute, leaving Wrexham with 10 men for extra time. Before that, Chelsea had already warned with a Pedro Neto shot that hit the crossbar in the 89th minute, a sign of the drive with which they sought to close out the tie.

With a man advantage, Chelsea found spaces in extra time. In the 96th minute, Dario Essugo sent a cross into the area, and Alejandro Garnacho finished from close range to make it 3-2. Wrexham tried to respond and even celebrated in the 114th minute with a goal from Lewis Brunt, but VAR disallowed the play for offside. That review prevented the equalizer and sustained the visitors' lead under the greatest pressure.

Finally, in the closing stages, Chelsea sealed their passage. In the 120th+5 minute, Joao Pedro received an assist from Dario Essugo and finished with his right foot for the final 4-2. Thus, the Blues secured their qualification to the next phase after coming from behind on two occasions and taking advantage of Dobson's red card to resolve a tie that Wrexham pushed to the limit in front of their home crowd.

R. Sanchez: 6.8
B. Badiashile: 7.0
T. Adarabioyo: 7.6
M. Sarr: 6.4
J. Hato: 6.6
R. Lavia: 6.0
A. Santos: 7.3
J. Acheampong: 7.2
A. Garnacho: 8.4
P. Neto: 6.6
J. Pedro: 8.2

The ratings were generated by Sofascore's statistical engine.

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