July 20, (THEWILL) – Chelsea got their pre-season campaign off to a winning start with a 5-0 victory over Wrexham in front of a sell-out crowd in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Netherlands Under-21 winger Ian Maatsen scored twice in the first half, before substitutes, Conor Gallagher, Christopher Nkunku and Ben Chilwell all got on the scoresheet in the final 10 minutes. Chelsea dominated possession throughout the game and created a number of chances, but they were made to work hard for their victory by a Wrexham side who defended resolutely for long periods.
Maatsen early goal opened the scoring in the 3rd minute with a fine effort, cutting inside from the left flank and curling the ball into the top corner. He doubled his tally forty minutes after, and Chelsea could have had more before the break as they continued to attack at will.
The second half was more balanced than the first with Wrexham defending resolutely but second-half substitute Gallagher made it 3-0 in the 81st minute, and Nkunku opened his Chelsea account when he added a fourth nine minutes later with a cool finish.
Wrexham continued to create chances, but were unable to find the back of the net. Chilwell completed the scoring in late into stoppage time as Chelsea cruised to victory in their first game under new manager Mauricio Pochettino. The Blues will be looking to build on this performance in their next pre-season friendly against Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
