Chelsea FC defeated Wrexham AFC 5-0 at a sold-out match in UNC’s Kenan Stadium, the first time an international game is been held at the stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
The match which was held on Wednesday night was the first between the Blues and the Red Dragons since 1984.
Chelsea fans finally had something to smile about under Mauricio Pochettino when Ian Maatsen scored in the third minute and again, three minutes before halftime.
Wrexham pushed hard for a goal against the Premier League opposition, but Chelsea replied via Connor Gallagher’s third goal with nine minutes remaining to put the game away. Christopher Nkunku added a fourth with seconds remaining in regulation, and then Ben Chilwell scored the fifth with the final kick of the game.
Wrexham, who has won the FA Cup once and just promoted to League Two for this season had many chances but could not convert them.
The club is owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney and has gained popularity among fans, thanks to the FX docuseries, “Welcome to Wrexham.”
Chelsea will now head to Philadelphia to play a Premier League Summer Series match against Brighton & Hove Albion in three days’ time.
Chelsea vs Wrexham final score
| Score | Goalscorers | |
| Chelsea | 5 | Maatsen (3′, 42′) Gallagher (81′) Nkunku (90′) Chilwell (90+3′) |
| Wrexham | 0 | – |
Starting lineups:
Chelsea (4-3-3, right to left): 60. Cumming (GK — Bergstrom, 77′) — 34. Gusto (Gilchrist, 46′), 14. Chalobah (Cucurella, 85′), 35. Humphreys, 32. Cucurella (Chilwell, 46′) — 39. Santos (Hall, 63′), 30. Chukwumeka (Gallagher, 46′), 40. Casadei — 42. Moreira (Angelo, 46′), 43. Jackson (Nkunku, 46′), 38. Maatsen (Sterling, 46′).
Wrexham (3-5-2, right to left): 12. Foster (GK — Lainton, 46′) — 15. O’Connor (Cleworth, 62′), 22. O’Connell (Hayden, 46′), 4. Tozer (McAlinden, 62′) — 14. Forde (Boyle, 46′), 20. Cannon (Barnett, 46′), 38. Lee (Davies, 62′), 30. J. Jones (Young, 62′), 19. Mendy (McFadzean, 46′) — 10. Mullin (Palmer, 62′), 18. Dalby (Waters, 62′).
