Enzo Maresca’s first game in charge of Chelsea ended in a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Wrexham during their pre-season tour in the United States. The match, held at Levi’s Stadium, saw Chelsea take the lead through Christopher Nkunku’s first-half strike before Wrexham equalized and briefly went ahead in the second half.
Nkunku gave Chelsea the lead in the 35th minute with a sharp finish after a blocked shot from Tyrique George. Despite dominating possession, Chelsea struggled to break down Wrexham’s defense initially. In the second half, Maresca made ten substitutions, changing almost the entire lineup.
Wrexham equalized just before the hour mark when Seb Revan’s cross was converted by Luke Bolton. They then took a surprise lead with Jack Marriott’s goal following a defensive mistake. However, Lesley Ugochukwu salvaged a draw for Chelsea with an 82nd-minute equalizer, finishing a well-worked move with a precise shot into the bottom corner.
Despite the draw, Maresca defended his possession-based style of play. He acknowledged the risks involved in building from the back but expressed confidence that this approach would lead to more goals scored than conceded. “Hopefully, not too many [goals conceded],” Maresca said. “It is one of the risks that you have trying to build from behind. But I think you are going to score more than you concede.”
Wrexham’s performance impressed, adding to their recent 1-1 draw against Bournemouth. Under the ownership of Hollywood actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, Wrexham is preparing for third-tier football for the first time since 2005.
Chelsea’s lineup featured new signings and several academy graduates. Robert Sanchez started in goal, with captain Reece James, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, and Levi Colwill in defense. Marc Guiu led the attack, supported by Tyrique George and Noni Madueke on the flanks.
Chelsea created several chances early on, with James hitting the post from a free-kick and Nkunku almost doubling the lead. However, defensive errors in the second half allowed Wrexham to capitalize.
As Chelsea continues their pre-season tour, Maresca is focused on refining the team’s identity and improving their performance. “For sure, we did many things we can improve, but we started just two weeks ago. Tonight was important to start seeing the identity of the team, and the identity is there,” he said.
The Blues will look to build on this performance as they prepare for the upcoming season, hoping to blend their new tactical approach with their traditional strengths.
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