Late Goal by Ugochukwu Secures Draw for Chelsea in Pre-Season Clash

Lesley Ugochukwu's late equalizer helped Chelsea secure a 2-2 draw against Wrexham in a pre-season friendly in Santa Clara. The midfielder, focusing on offensive tactics, scored his first goal for the club and discussed team strategies under new head coach Enzo Maresca.

Lesley Ugochukwu netted a late equalizer for Chelsea in a 2-2 pre-season draw against Wrexham in Santa Clara. Ugochukwu emphasized that his focus on the attacking aspects of his game paid off, enabling him to score his inaugural goal for the Blues.

'I tried to put it in. I am practising it as much as I can. It's not often people see me in that situation, but when I got there, I tried to stay calm,' Ugochukwu explained to Chelsea's official website. Known for his defensive prowess, Ugochukwu demonstrated offensive capability, attributing it to guidelines from head coach Enzo Maresca.

'To be calm with the ball, try to go forward and trust the process. Not rush it. I tried to do what I was asked at halftime and did my best,' he noted. Ugochukwu reflected on the early stages of pre-season under Maresca, revealing the team is still adapting to new strategic ideas.

'It was our first game; we just started two weeks ago. We aim to improve game-by-game. He has good ideas, and we're trying to implement them,' the 20-year-old midfielder added. Maresca's approach, noted for its inverted full-backs, saw James move into midfield during possession alongside Romeo Lavia, with Carney Chukwuemeka and Christopher Nkunku in more advanced roles.

At halftime, Maresca made ten substitutions, leaving Chukwuemeka as the lone player to continue. Academy graduate Josh Acheampong entered as Wesley Fofana made his return since June 2023. Chelsea dominated possession in the second half, culminating in the 82nd-minute equalizer, when Armando Broja set up Ugochukwu, who side-footed it into the bottom corner.

The Blues controlled the game's final moments, with Acheampong almost scoring with a long-distance attempt. Ultimately, Chelsea had to settle for the 2-2 draw.

(With inputs from agencies.)