Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham put on a second-half show against Chelsea

SANTA CLARA – Wrexham, a club whose players’ every on-pitch move is recorded by film crews and high-definition cameras, made sure the studios would be able to use more than a few highlights from Tuesday’s friendly at Levi’s Stadium against legendary club Chelsea in its next season.

Ryan Reynolds-owned Wrexham rallied to a 2-2 draw against Chelsea and its star-studded roster, with both of the goals showcasing quality uncommon for a side in England’s third division.

Luke Bolton, storming in against Chelsea’s substitutes and aided by a cheeky Ollie Palmer dummy, smashed in a cross from Seb Revan in the 59th minute to tie the matchup of football’s elite versus a small Welsh club.

“To put it into context, we played a billion-pound team that have spent so much money on that team, and we were playing in the National League two years ago,” Wrexham coach Phil Parkinson said. “To go toe-to-toe with Chelsea tonight, I don’t know if people understand what an effort that was tonight.”

Jack Marriott broke free on a counter in the 71st minute to put Wrexham on top, slotting a shot in the low far post. Chelsea salvaged a draw in the 82nd minute when Lesley Ugochukwu tied the game off the rebound.

With new manager Enzo Maresca making his first appearance as Chelsea manager, the London club with a huge trophy collection and an even larger payroll let a lead slip away after the starters exited.

Christopher Nkunku scored in the first half for Chelsea, giving the Blues a lead they could not retain.

The friendly was Chelsea’s first match of the new season, almost two months having elapsed since the Blue’s 2-1 victory over Bournemouth in the Premier League finale.

Maresca, who became the fourth manager the London-based club has employed since firing Champions’ League-winning Thomas Tuchel in 2022, looked comfortable directing a makeshift lineup that mixed battle-tested veterans and fresh-faced newcomers.

With temperatures in the high 80s at the 7:08 p.m. kickoff, tempers flared in the third minute when Wrexham captain James McLean and Chelsea defender Levi Colwill got into a shoving match after a foul.

“We’ve got a massive crowd out here, and with the heat, we’ve got to adjust to a lot of different aspects out here,” goal-scorer Marriott said.

The rest of the first half saw Chelsea dominate possession thanks to the Blues ability to maintain possession with the back line of Reece James, Colwill and skillful midfielder Romeo Lavia.

But scoring chances were not exactly abundant early on despite darting runs by wingers Noni Madueke and Tyrique George getting them past their defender. Perhaps the first great chance came in the 18th minute, when new signing Marc Guiu stormed in from the right wing but flubbed a tap-in after a corner kick.

Ten minutes later, McLean charged in from the left wing on a counterattack, getting a shot off but unable to slot it past keeper Robert Sanchez. In the 35th minute, Chelsea’s forward Christopher Nkunku got a tap-in goal to give the London team a 1-0 lead.

Despite the less-than-ideal result, Chelsea’s newest manager wasn’t bothered by the draw.

“I think the result is always important, but in this moment, the most important thing is to judge the player’s performance two weeks after we started,” Maresca said. “I was very happy with the first half, and the second half, it was a shame we conceded the two goals.”

Chelsea, winners of two Champions League titles and six Premier League trophies, went into the match hoping to avoid the fate that had befallen fellow giant Manchester United almost exactly a year before, when Wrexham stunned upset the Premier League staple 3-1.

Coach Phil Parkinson’s Wrexham stayed composed and made things interesting in the second half when Luke Bolton, storming in against Chelsea’s substitutes and aided by a cheeky Ollie Palmer dummy, smashed in a cross from Seb Revan in the 59th minute.

Many in attendance were already familiar with the Welsh Club’s story, which has been chronicled in the “Welcome to Wrexham” documentary series.

Once only notable to hardcore aficionados of England’s fifth-tier National League and Football Manager enthusiasts looking for a difficult rebuild, the team was thrust into the Hollywood limelight when actors Ryan Reynolds and Robert McElhenney, the latter attending Wednesday’s match, bought the team in 2020.

Since the documentary’s debut in 2022, the Red Dragons have become international superstars, something Parkinson and the players have embraced as they embark on an international tour.

Fortunately for Wrexham, the League One club won’t be facing talent like Chelsea’s in the third tier of the English soccer pyramid.

But if they do, the Dragon’s Bay Area showcase proved it has the talent to compete with the best.

Originally Published: July 24, 2024 at 9:01 p.m.