Chelsea’s pre-season tour of the US kicked off with a dramatic 2-2 draw against League One’s Wrexham at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
The Blues, under the guidance of their new coach Enzo Maresca, found themselves fighting back from behind to secure the draw.
The game’s intensity was palpable right from the start.
Just three minutes in, a confrontation erupted between Chelsea’s Levi Colwill and Wrexham’s James McClean.
McClean’s late tackle on Colwill sparked an immediate reaction from the young defender, who grabbed McClean by the shirt collar.
This ignited a brief but fiery scuffle involving players from both teams, though the referee opted not to issue any penalties.
Match Highlights
Chelsea initially took the lead with a goal from Christopher Nkunku in the 35th minute, capitalizing on a corner delivered by Reece James.
However, Wrexham quickly bounced back with second-half goals from Luke Bolton and Jack Marriott. It looked like Wrexham might secure an unexpected victory until Lesley Ugochukwu’s equalizer in the 82nd minute saved Chelsea from defeat.
McClean’s Controversial Role
James McClean, who made headlines during Euro 2024 for his remarks about Declan Rice, was captaining Wrexham for this match.
Known for his combative style of play, McClean’s challenge on Colwill seemed to be a misjudged tackle, but it stirred up a lot of tension.
The incident was a reminder of McClean’s reputation for getting involved in on-field altercations, with a history of 29 bookings and one red card from his time in the Premier League.
Looking Ahead
This match marked the beginning of Chelsea’s five-game US pre-season tour, with upcoming fixtures against Celtic, Club America, Manchester City, and Real Madrid over the next 11 days.
On the other side, Wrexham, co-owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, continues their North American tour with one more match to go.
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