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Chelsea ride luck to beat Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham in FA Cup red card and VAR controversy
Premier League giants Chelsea overcame Championship promotion hopefuls Wrexham 4-2 at the Racecourse after a classic FA Cup tie full of drama and controversy
A classic FA Cup tie saw Premier League giants Chelsea taken to extra time by 10-man Wrexham only to eventually see off the Championship promotion hopefuls in a game full of controversy.
Liam Rosenior's Blues, fifth in the top flight and eight-time winners of the trophy, took on Phil Parkinson's side, sixth in the second tier, following the North Wales' outfit's extraordinary rise up the divisions under the ownership of acting duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. And a thrilling encounter on Saturday night saw the home side come close to Hollywood heroics, only to be undone by more than a slice of bad luck.
With Chelsea playing Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday, Rosenior made nine changes to the starting XI that won 4-1 at Aston Villa in midweek. Jorrel Hato and Alejandro Garnacho were the only men to keep their place for the trip to the Racecourse stadium, which proved to be an enthralling and heated affair.
The weakened side were initially made to pay as Wrexham's Sam Smith opened the scoring in the 18th minute. He beat the offside trap and Chelsea's high line when he latched onto a fine pass from Callum Doyle, before finishing smartly with a low drive past Robert Sanchez from the edge of the area.
Wrexham continued to dominate, but just before half-time, the visitors were level thanks to an incredibly fortunate, freak goal. Liam Delap did very well as he brought down a long pass from Sanchez, then found Garnacho wide left, who drove forward and unleashed a shot that beat the diving Arthur Okonkwo.
It was cleared off the line by George Thomason – but in his desperation the Wrexham man smashed the ball into the back of his keeper, before it ricocheted into the net, as he held his head in his hands. Chelsea couldn't believe their luck.
As a lively second half reached the closing stages, the hosts found themselves just 11 minutes of regulation time from glory when Doyle turned from creator to scorer.
As the clock hit 79 minutes, a Wrexham corner was headed away by Chelsea, only to land on the edge of the penalty area. Josh Windass fired a shot back into a packed box, before the ball fell to the feet of Doyle, who flicked it into the net with brilliant improvisation.
Sadly for Wrexham, their lead was fleeting, as the Londoners drew level only moments later. Andrey Santos hit a deflected pass which wrongfooted Thomason and came to Josh Acheampong, with the teen defender lashing the ball into the net. And more pain was to come for those hoping for a cup upset.
After Pedro Neto crashed a shot against the crossbar from a Garnacho cross, Wrexham pushed for a late winner. The visitors launched a counterattack and George Dobson felt he had no chance but to take out the former Manchester United winger with a cynical lunge. But after he initially received a yellow card, VAR intervened in controversial scenes.
Referee Peter Bankes was sent to the monitor, where he was shown a replay of Dobson's high challenge and how his studs connected with Garnacho's leg above the shin. Alan Shearer, commentating for the BBC, said: "A naughty one. George Dobson knows what he is doing and he catches Alejandro Garnacho high."
He added: "It is hard to argue against it. You cannot have any complaints." Wrexham and Wales legend Barry Horne agreed. "I had a feeling that might be the outcome. He's come across at pace, he's high and he certainly didn't get the ball."
However, others were far from convinced. Wayne Rooney, on punditry duty for BBC One, said: "I don't think it is a red." And many fans online agreed, with one posting on X: "Never a red. That’s everything wrong with modern football.
"Why are we taking physicality out of the game, it’s not basketball." Another fan added: "Never a red card. Ref got first decision spot on. Stop re-referring games. That was not a clear and obvious error so VAR so just keep out of it."
Wrexham were up against it with 10 men but held on for extra time. However, they soon found themselves 3-2 down, as for the first time in the match, the visitors went ahead. In the 96th minute, Neto found Dario Essugo, whose inviting cross was converted superbly by Garnacho.
Yet the game was far from over. Somehow, against the odds, Wrexham thought they had drawn level. Kieffer Moore towered above everyone at a corner to knock the ball down, where it was turned in by Lewis Brunt. Yet he had just strayed offside and the goal was heartbreakingly ruled out for Wrexham after another VAR review. No wonder the home crowd chanted: "F*** VAR".
After Moore and Marc Cucurella clashed in more heated scenes, with Moore booked for his challenge on the Spaniard and Garnacho shown a yellow card for asking for his opponent to receive one, Wrexham's Lewis O'Brien came agonisingly close to finding a third goal for his side, with a strike that flashed past the post with just minutes left on the clock.
However, Chelsea held on before Joao Pedro, on as a substitute, scored a fine fourth goal, which will see Rosenior's men in the draw for the sixth round of the competition.
Daily Star Sunday
Premier League giants Chelsea overcame Championship promotion hopefuls Wrexham 4-2 at the Racecourse after a classic FA Cup tie full of drama and controversy
A classic FA Cup tie saw Premier League giants Chelsea taken to extra time by 10-man Wrexham only to eventually see off the Championship promotion hopefuls in a game full of controversy.
Liam Rosenior's Blues, fifth in the top flight and eight-time winners of the trophy, took on Phil Parkinson's side, sixth in the second tier, following the North Wales' outfit's extraordinary rise up the divisions under the ownership of acting duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. And a thrilling encounter on Saturday night saw the home side come close to Hollywood heroics, only to be undone by more than a slice of bad luck.
With Chelsea playing Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday, Rosenior made nine changes to the starting XI that won 4-1 at Aston Villa in midweek. Jorrel Hato and Alejandro Garnacho were the only men to keep their place for the trip to the Racecourse stadium, which proved to be an enthralling and heated affair.
The weakened side were initially made to pay as Wrexham's Sam Smith opened the scoring in the 18th minute. He beat the offside trap and Chelsea's high line when he latched onto a fine pass from Callum Doyle, before finishing smartly with a low drive past Robert Sanchez from the edge of the area.
Wrexham continued to dominate, but just before half-time, the visitors were level thanks to an incredibly fortunate, freak goal. Liam Delap did very well as he brought down a long pass from Sanchez, then found Garnacho wide left, who drove forward and unleashed a shot that beat the diving Arthur Okonkwo.
It was cleared off the line by George Thomason – but in his desperation the Wrexham man smashed the ball into the back of his keeper, before it ricocheted into the net, as he held his head in his hands. Chelsea couldn't believe their luck.
As a lively second half reached the closing stages, the hosts found themselves just 11 minutes of regulation time from glory when Doyle turned from creator to scorer.
As the clock hit 79 minutes, a Wrexham corner was headed away by Chelsea, only to land on the edge of the penalty area. Josh Windass fired a shot back into a packed box, before the ball fell to the feet of Doyle, who flicked it into the net with brilliant improvisation.
Sadly for Wrexham, their lead was fleeting, as the Londoners drew level only moments later. Andrey Santos hit a deflected pass which wrongfooted Thomason and came to Josh Acheampong, with the teen defender lashing the ball into the net. And more pain was to come for those hoping for a cup upset.
After Pedro Neto crashed a shot against the crossbar from a Garnacho cross, Wrexham pushed for a late winner. The visitors launched a counterattack and George Dobson felt he had no chance but to take out the former Manchester United winger with a cynical lunge. But after he initially received a yellow card, VAR intervened in controversial scenes.
Referee Peter Bankes was sent to the monitor, where he was shown a replay of Dobson's high challenge and how his studs connected with Garnacho's leg above the shin. Alan Shearer, commentating for the BBC, said: "A naughty one. George Dobson knows what he is doing and he catches Alejandro Garnacho high."
He added: "It is hard to argue against it. You cannot have any complaints." Wrexham and Wales legend Barry Horne agreed. "I had a feeling that might be the outcome. He's come across at pace, he's high and he certainly didn't get the ball."
However, others were far from convinced. Wayne Rooney, on punditry duty for BBC One, said: "I don't think it is a red." And many fans online agreed, with one posting on X: "Never a red. That’s everything wrong with modern football.
"Why are we taking physicality out of the game, it’s not basketball." Another fan added: "Never a red card. Ref got first decision spot on. Stop re-referring games. That was not a clear and obvious error so VAR so just keep out of it."
Wrexham were up against it with 10 men but held on for extra time. However, they soon found themselves 3-2 down, as for the first time in the match, the visitors went ahead. In the 96th minute, Neto found Dario Essugo, whose inviting cross was converted superbly by Garnacho.
Yet the game was far from over. Somehow, against the odds, Wrexham thought they had drawn level. Kieffer Moore towered above everyone at a corner to knock the ball down, where it was turned in by Lewis Brunt. Yet he had just strayed offside and the goal was heartbreakingly ruled out for Wrexham after another VAR review. No wonder the home crowd chanted: "F*** VAR".
After Moore and Marc Cucurella clashed in more heated scenes, with Moore booked for his challenge on the Spaniard and Garnacho shown a yellow card for asking for his opponent to receive one, Wrexham's Lewis O'Brien came agonisingly close to finding a third goal for his side, with a strike that flashed past the post with just minutes left on the clock.
However, Chelsea held on before Joao Pedro, on as a substitute, scored a fine fourth goal, which will see Rosenior's men in the draw for the sixth round of the competition.
Daily Star Sunday