Wrexham 2-4 Chelsea (AET): Garnacho and Joao Pedro Extra-Time Strikes Rescue Blues in FA Cup Thriller

Stamford Bridge, London — Chelsea survived a classic FA Cup scare at the Racecourse Ground, needing extra-time goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Joao Pedro to subdue 10-man Wrexham 4-2 and book a quarter-final berth.

The Championship hosts, roared on by a raucous crowd, twice led through Sam Smith and Callum Doyle, but George Dobson’s 93rd-minute dismissal shifted momentum irrevocably toward the eight-time winners.

Smith struck first in the 17th minute, racing onto Doyle’s speculative punt and slotting past the hesitant Robert Sanchez. Chelsea levelled in fortuitous fashion five minutes before the interval when Garnacho’s drive was hacked off the line by George Thomason only to rebound off keeper Arthur Okonkwo and trickle over the line.

Wrexham refused to wilt. Doyle diverted Josh Windass’ effort beyond Sanchez in the 78th minute, yet parity lasted barely four minutes as teenage full-back Josh Acheampong thundered home his first senior goal to make it 2-2.

Dobson’s night turned sour deep into stoppage time when VAR upgraded his initial yellow to red for a high challenge on Garnacho, leaving Wrexham to face 30 additional minutes a man short.

The Blues capitalised in the 96th minute: Dario Essugo’s measured cross was met crisply by Garnacho, whose volley nestled inside the far post. Wrexham thought they had forced penalties when Lewis Brunt headed in from a corner, only for the flag to rise against Kieffer Moore’s flick. Joao Pedro extinguished the rebellion in the 125th minute, racing clear to finish calmly past Okonkwo and seal a 4-2 triumph.

The result extends Chelsea’s unbeaten FA Cup run against lower-division opposition to 25 ties since their 2015 shock loss to Bradford City, though Wrexham’s 1.8 expected goals from 19 attempts underlined how slender the margin proved.

Garnacho, whose strike was his fifth in seven domestic cup appearances this term, once again proved the difference as Liam Rosenior’s side exited with heads held high.

Chelsea now advance to the last eight, still dreaming of a first FA Cup triumph since 2018.