Chelsea forward João Pedro continued his sensational scoring streak, netting the decisive goal in extra time to secure a 4-2 victory over Wrexham AFC in the Emirates FA Cup fifth round at the STōK Cae Ras on Saturday evening.
The Brazilian substitute struck in the 120+5th minute with a composed right-footed finish from the centre of the box, sealing Chelsea’s progression to the quarter-finals after a pulsating encounter that went the distance. It marked yet another goal in a remarkable run of form for the 24-year-old, who has been in unstoppable scoring touch throughout the 2025/26 campaign.
Pedro came off the bench in the second half and made an immediate impact, weaving through the Wrexham defence before sliding his shot past goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo to cap a hard-fought win. The goal was his latest contribution in a season where he has already tallied impressive numbers across all competitions, including a memorable Premier League hat-trick against Aston Villa just days earlier on March 5.
Chelsea twice fought back from deficits in a match full of drama. Wrexham took the lead through Sam Smith (18’) before an own goal from Okonkwo (40’) levelled matters. Callum Doyle restored the hosts’ advantage in the 78th minute, but Josh Acheampong equalised swiftly (82’). After Wrexham’s George Dobson was sent off in stoppage time, extra time saw Alejandro Garnacho put Chelsea ahead (96’) before Pedro’s late strike removed any doubt.
Head Coach Liam Rosenior hailed Pedro’s impact post-match:
“João is showing exactly why we brought him here. His composure, movement, and clinical finishing are top class. Coming on in a tough away tie against a side fighting for everything and delivering that moment of quality speaks volumes about his mentality. He’s in a rich vein of form, and we’re delighted to have him leading the line.”
The victory keeps Chelsea’s FA Cup ambitions alive as they chase a ninth title in the competition. Pedro’s goal adds to his growing reputation as one of the Premier League’s most in-form attackers this season, with consistent contributions helping drive the Blues forward in domestic and cup competitions.
Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson paid tribute to his team’s effort despite the defeat:
“We pushed a strong Premier League side to the limit and created memories for our fans. João Pedro showed his quality at the end, but our players can be proud of how they performed.”
Chelsea now turn their attention to the FA Cup quarter-final draw while maintaining momentum in their push for success on multiple fronts.
We Breathe Blue
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