Premier League side Chelsea FC begun their preseason preps with a 2-2 draw against third tier side Wrexham in the USA on Thursday morning.
Set plays proved the most positive route to creating chances and Chelsea led in 38 minutes when a corner was half-cleared as far as Tyrique George, the 18-year-old shifting onto his right foot for a shot that hit the crowd of players and landed for Christopher Nkunku to fire home.
Romeo Lavia joined James in making his return from injury for the first half and an almost entirely new XI after the break featured Wesley Fofana’s comeback, while Raheem Sterling, Armando Broja and Lucas Bergstrom were among those also coming on.
Sterling tested the Wrexham goalkeeper from a tight angle but the third-tier team levelled against the run of play on 58 minutes. A low cross from the left evaded a number of defenders to reach Bolton for a finish at the far post.
Wrexham stunned Chelsea on 71 minutes with some sharp pressing to win the ball back and a quick pass sent Marriott through with far too much time and space as he picked out a fine shot into the bottom corner past Bergstrom.
Chelsea mustered a late rally and pulled level via a calm finish from Ugochukwu but Wrexham reached the final whistle for a second consecutive friendly draw against top-flight opposition. Chelsea next head to Notre Dame for a meeting with Celtic on Saturday.
