Wrexham continued their bright pre-season run with a 3-2 victory over Premier League opposition, outscoring Leeds United in sweltering conditions in Tampa. The Championship side took the lead inside the opening minute and held on to record another notable result on their three-game United States tour.
Early strike sets tone
The visitors were never behind after Kieffer Moore opened the scoring in the first minute with a composed finish that set the tone for the encounter. Further goals from Bailey Cadamarteri and Sam Smith — who also scored the winner against Manchester United in Helsinki a week earlier — secured the win.
“Obviously pleased. A really good work-out. Very humid conditions, you’ve almost got to be here to understand how tough it was,”
Manager Phil Parkinson, speaking to the club website after the match, highlighted the fitness benefits and quality moments within the performance. He singled out Cadamarteri’s combination of power and pace and praised Smith’s clinical finishing.
How the goals came
- Moore put Wrexham ahead very early with a well-worked opening goal.
- Cadamarteri produced a burst of pace to create and finish the second, a sign of his growing confidence.
- Smith converted an assist from Davis Keillor-Dunn to seal the victory after Leeds had reduced the deficit.
Parkinson acknowledged defensive frailties in the face of Premiership-level movement but praised the team's response after conceding. He added that attention would now turn to analysing the data and selecting the squad for the next pre-season fixture.
| Scorer | Team |
|---|---|
| Kieffer Moore | Wrexham |
| Bailey Cadamarteri | Wrexham |
| Sam Smith | Wrexham |
Next on tour
Wrexham travel on to New York for a high-profile friendly against Liverpool at Yankee Stadium, with kick-off listed at 12.30am on Thursday. The tour concludes against Sunderland in Philadelphia next Sunday.
This sequence of fixtures — following the club’s recent victory over Manchester United in Helsinki — underlines Wrexham’s increasing exposure on the international stage in pre-season. For supporters, the matches offer both a spectacle and a chance to assess squad fitness and form ahead of the competitive campaign.
