00:00Here come the teams then. It is the first game of the Enzo Maresca era for Chelsea.
00:07And it is familiar opposition for the second season in a row.
00:11The Blues face Wrexham in the United States of America.
00:17The first of six warm-up games for Chelsea ahead of the start of the new season against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Sunday the 18th of August.
00:26But for now, it's about finding fitness form and getting used to what the new head coach wants.
00:33They're taking on League One opposition, Wrexham having been promoted in successive seasons.
00:40This is the team that he has selected to start the game.
00:45Mark Guyot, the teenager who signed from Barcelona, makes his first appearance in a Chelsea shirt.
00:50Same two for Tosin, who's joined on a free after leaving Fulham.
00:55Rhys James will be suspended for the first three games of the campaign, but he, as I say, is in tonight.
01:00Robert Sanchez, who had injury problems last season, gets the nod in goal.
01:04And young Tyree George, also part of the team.
01:07I'm looking forward to seeing the likes of Lavier and Dinkinfield too.
01:12I mentioned that you'll know the name of James McLean, Elliot Lee might be familiar to you too.
01:16If you watched the documentary, you'll know plenty more of these players.
01:19Oli Palmer, veteran goal-getter leading the line with Paul Mullin unavailable because of injury.
01:25Lewis Brunt is another one to keep your eye on.
01:27New signing, number three from Leicester.
01:29He played on loan at Mansfield last season, promising young defender.
01:32And he is in for a test today.
01:35So, Levi Colwell on the ball here, they're building a back three.
01:40McLean coming together.
01:42Well, it's taken two minutes for this friendly match to get less than friendly.
01:48James McLean has got previous for this kind of thing.
01:51Levi Colwell not so much, he'd be well advised to walk away.
01:58It's very early in the game to be getting wound up by James McLean.
02:01It's going to be a long old evening for Levi Colwell, if that's the case.
02:05Not really being pressurised at this stage.
02:07Just popped off and just left a little bit on him.
02:11Not too much to provoke the reaction, but moving back in down this early stage.
02:18McLean, Maguire can change that over the ball.
02:20James, he sends it in, it goes for goal.
02:23It's the side of the net rather than the back of it, which is rippling.
02:25But Okonkwo was worried just for a second.
02:28Such terrific power in that right boot.
02:30Good disguise.
02:31Everyone's anticipating the delivery.
02:33Very nearly.
02:35Catching out Okonkwo.
02:39Again, it's Rhys James, the man for the set piece.
02:44Great delivery as well on the glanced header from Mkunku.
02:48Begged a touch at the back post from Guyot.
02:54James again sends it in.
02:55Oh, Badia shield.
02:56Great opportunity, maybe second time round.
02:59Chukwemeka.
03:01Off the toe of Mkunku.
03:03It's on the swing of that for Badia Shield.
03:06I think if that's Tosin, another.
03:09Getting it on there, right foot from seven yards out.
03:11That's going to find its way towards the target.
03:17Now here's Revan.
03:19Feed it through for McLean.
03:20It's a decent ball as well.
03:21Badia Shield trying to get the block on.
03:22McLean got the shot away.
03:24And Sanchez was able to beat it away at his near post.
03:26Yeah, just caught out of their shape here.
03:28Chelsea maybe for the first time and McLean got that movement right.
03:33Left side too many times but got into a good shooting position.
03:37Again, the angle not perfect.
03:39Wanted to drill it towards the near side.
03:44James is balling again.
03:46George is going to line up a shot here.
03:49Going to bend it, Tyreke George.
03:51It's going to break for Mkunku and he's going to hammer it in
03:54for Chelsea's first goal of pre-season.
03:57And just like last year, Christopher Mkunku finds the net against Wrexham.
04:02And with ten minutes of the first half to play,
04:04it's the Blues who strike first in Santa Clara.
04:08Well, it's a brilliant finish.
04:10Puts it away wonderfully well.
04:12Great power, Christopher Mkunku,
04:14as you would expect from a player of his calibre.
04:17But again, a set piece causing problems
04:20and that has been Chelsea's main threat,
04:22I would say, throughout the opening 35 minutes.
04:25For credit, Tyreke George here.
04:28The awareness, I think, to shift here
04:31and make that little bit of space to get the strike away.
04:34Cannons off, a combination of Levi Colwell
04:36and then Mkunku is on the hand to dispatch that.
04:40Brilliant strike.
04:46Here's Guyot, a conqueror, committed himself.
04:49Guyot's found Mkunku
04:51and sheer weight of numbers helped Wrexham out there
04:53and spared the goalkeepers' blushes.
04:56As he's touched on, he's been aggressive when he's gone to close
04:59and it's been a frustrating half in some ways for him
05:03that he's not been able to get on the ball as much as he would want to.
05:08Santos moved it on for Angelo.
05:11He's managed those two last season.
05:12In from Angelo, really good ball as well.
05:15Sterling wanted to get there but Mkunku made sure he couldn't.
05:19Yes, yes, yes!
05:23Sterling's done really well.
05:24No foul, got support as well.
05:26Going to go for it himself and Mkunku kicked it away.
05:31It's looking really bright.
05:32A couple of chances.
05:35Maybe just gone out of play there but Raheem Sterling,
05:37I think, too tempting at this stage of the pre-season programme
05:40not to take the strike on.
05:42Reven's ball in was a good one.
05:44Palmer missed it but it's turned in at the far post.
05:48And Wrexham are level.
05:50And Olly Palmer thought he was going to get a tap in there.
05:53It was great play from Reven down the left-hand side.
05:56There was nothing Bergstrom could do to keep the ball out.
05:59And then Luke Bolton turns it in for 1-1.
06:02And they've got numbers forward.
06:04They said they've had to...
06:05pick their opportunities, really.
06:08Plays onside well.
06:10Lee, who finds Reven down the left and the ball in is really good.
06:14It's aided actually by that little deflection of Ugo Chukwu.
06:18Turns it into a brilliant delivery.
06:20Palmer can't convert but Bolton on the far side.
06:23Strong side foot.
06:24That's his name on the score sheet.
06:2618-21 on the last day of last season.
06:29And a good start.
06:31What a finish that was.
06:33No chance for Lukas Bergstrom.
06:36And Marriott turns the game on its head.
06:41Very similar to the first goal in that it's a turnover
06:45in the middle of the pitch.
06:48And it's a good start.
06:50And it's a good start.
06:52And it's a good start.
06:54And it's a good start.
06:56And it's a good start.
06:58And it's a good start.
07:01Chukwu just guilty of one or too many touches.
07:05That's good awareness from Dolby.
07:06The front two combining.
07:08And that is superb.
07:10Don't take anything away from Jack Marriott who you can see is involved
07:14in winning the ball back initially.
07:17Gets on his bike.
07:18That's perfect as a striker.
07:22Here's Dolby.
07:23Got Marriott in the middle.
07:25Looking for him.
07:26Oh and Marriott got the shot away.
07:27Might get the second ball too.
07:28Good save that from Lucas Bergstrom.
07:30Good reaction.
07:35Angelo looking for Chukwu Mecha.
07:37There's Ugo Chukwu who passes it in for 2-2.
07:41How cool was that from Leslie Ugo Chukwu?
07:44And Chelsea are back on terms.
07:46Stroked into the corner of the net.
07:48No chance for the goalkeeper.
07:50All square.
07:52Down the right hand side.
07:54Ugo Chukwu involved in the build up initially.
07:58And Boye has been starved really hasn't he of touches.
08:01Not been able to get into the game and affect it really.
08:03But that's an important little toe.
08:05Little setback for Ugo Chukwu.
08:07It makes it really simple.
08:09Really nice for him to just stride on to.
08:12And just cushion that into the corner.
08:14Lovely composed finish.
08:18Sterling.
08:19Good work from Cristo to win it back.
08:22Sterling going alone.
08:24Good challenge as well.
08:25There will be a corner.
08:28Since he's come on.
08:30Really direct.
08:31Driving.
08:33Unfortunately Wrexham have a lot of numbers back there.
08:35Well covered.
08:37Good defending in the end.
08:39Cristo.
08:41Achiapong.
08:42Yes he's hitting it.
08:43Josh Achiapong.
08:45That would have been a moment for him to save it forever.
08:48And we will play no more.
08:50All square then in Chelsea's first pre-season game.
08:53Real topsy-turvy match it was too.
08:56Enjoyable stuff.
08:57Chelsea ahead at half-time.
08:58Through Christopher Nkunku.
09:00Wrexham roared into the lead.
09:01With Bolton and Marriott scoring.
09:03But Leslie Ugo Chukwu equalising eight minutes from time.
09:07Smiles from Wrexham's famous owner.
09:11Full-time score in Santa Clara.
09:13Chelsea team.
09:14Wrexham 2.
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