And finally, Wrexham AFC kicks off the much-anticipated US tour. The Reds played Premier League giants Chelsea in a David versus Goliath battle. The anticipation was palpable as many Wrexham enthusiasts traveled miles to watch the Ryan Reynolds’ club play at Chapell Hill. 

It was a massive opportunity for Phil Parkinson and his boys to showcase their skills and prove they belonged to the grand stage. However, the game didn’t go well for the Reds as Chelsea thrashed them 5-0. But they gave their best against a massive opposition.

Wrexham falls short

The game took place at the Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapell Hill, North Carolina. The organizers sold out the tickets for the 51,000-seater stadium, as it was a massive event in Chapell Hill, a town housing 60,000 population. And why not! After all, Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham was the center of attraction. As expected, Parkinson went with a strong starting lineup.

But the game didn’t go as per plans for the Reds. Ian Maatsen put the Premier League club ahead in the third minute, doubling the lead in the 42nd minute. The Welsh club did their best to get back into the game. Eoghan O’Connell came the closest in the 29th minute from the trademark Ben Tozer bullet throw. However, he just headed it wide.

Phil Parkinson made five changes coming into the second half to mix up things and give minutes to other players. The fans were looking for inspiration from Paul Mullin. But after an hour mark, Parkinson decided to make six more changes, with Mullin, Sam Dalby, and Ben Tozer getting some rest. It took the Red Dragons 78th minutes to have a shot on target as Chelsea cleared Ollie Palmer’s header off the line.

READ MORE: After Wrexham’s Humiliating 5-0 Defeat on US Soil, Rob McElhenney Hopes for Epic Premier League Showdown With Chelsea in ‘5 Years’

Meanwhile, a few minutes later, Chelsea extended their lead to 3-0, with Connor Gallagher notching a goal in the 80th minute. And Chelsea piled misery on the Welsh side after Christopher Nkunku scored fourth in the 90th minute. It wasn’t enough for Chelsea, as Ben Chilwell made it 5-0 in the 95th minute. The heavy loss to the Londoners sparked banter from the fans targeting Ryan Reynolds’ club.

Fans have no chill

The fans were waiting for the moment to troll Wrexham, it seems. One of the fans wrote, “Feed me your tears Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney. Up the Chels!” The users were all over the Deadpool actor, with some saying that Reynolds would sell the club at full-time. 

One fan felt he made a wrong choice by snubbing Arsenal versus MLS All-Stars game. On the other hand, a few fans felt it was what Wrexham deserved when playing a Premier League team.

Yes, Wrexham may have lost the game, but they took a massive step. The Reds started last preseason against Nantwich Town in front of 1,427 spectators. Meanwhile, they started this preseason against Chelsea ahead of a 51,000 crowd. That’s huge for a club with a stadium capacity of less than 11,000.

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