Blake Lively offered comfort to Wrexham forward Sam Smith on the Racecourse Ground turf following Saturday night's heartbreaking FA Cup exit against Chelsea. The 38-year-old actress, clutching a soft plush teddy bear, wrapped her arms around the striker in a warm embrace after the final whistle. Both Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds had descended from their private box to meet the players following the 4-2 extra-time defeat. The Hollywood star, who has become a regular presence at Wrexham matches alongside Reynolds, appeared determined to lift spirits despite the crushing nature of the loss. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say It was Smith who had given the Welsh club hope earlier in the evening with a stunning opening goal that sent the 13,500-capacity stadium into raptures. Reynolds had erupted in celebration alongside co-owner Rob McElhenney when Smith found the net, with the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia actor having arrived by private jet for the occasion. The Deadpool actor was spotted kissing his wife as she held him around the waist, the couple watching from their elevated vantage point as the underdogs twice took the lead. McElhenney and Reynolds have overseen a remarkable transformation at the Welsh club since their takeover five years ago, making moments like Saturday's encounter all the more meaningful. LATEST SPORTS NEWS: George Russell explains 'suspicion' immediately after winning Australian Grand Prix Pep Guardiola facing ban after Man City beat Newcastle in FA Cup Rory McIlroy sensationally withdraws from $20m PGA Tour event minutes before tee-time The atmosphere inside the ground reached fever pitch when Callum Doyle restored Wrexham's advantage in the 79th minute, only for the hosts' hopes to be dashed minutes later when Josh Acheampong drew Chelsea level once more. A sending-off for the home side proved decisive, leaving Wrexham facing an uphill struggle against the Premier League opposition. Chelsea capitalised on their numerical advantage in extra-time, with Alejandro Garnacho and Joao Pedro both finding the net to secure a 4-2 victory for the Blues. The result ended what had been a memorable FA Cup run for the Championship outfit, who had twice held the lead against the Club World Champions. Saturday's encounter marked the first competitive meeting between the two clubs, despite Wrexham having faced Chelsea during pre-season tours of the United States in 2023 and 2024. The Welsh side's journey to the fifth round had been impressive, having eliminated Nottingham Forest on penalties in January before dispatching fellow Championship club Ipswich Town. It represented Wrexham's first appearance at this stage of the competition since 1997, a testament to the progress made under Reynolds and McElhenney's ownership. Manager Parkinson, who has delivered three consecutive promotions since arriving in 2021, had called on his players to embrace their "underdog fighting spirit" ahead of the tie. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter