Red Wolves Lose Third Straight Match

  • Wednesday, October 7, 2020
  • Joseph Dycus

The Chattanooga Red Wolves 3-1 loss to North Texas SC began in the 26th minute of a sunny afternoon match at CHI Memorial stadium. Gibran Rayo had successfully drawn a foul just outside Texas’ box, and he set up Arturo Rodriguez for the free kick smack in front of the goal.

Between the Red Wolves wall and the goal was the red-haired goalkeeper Alex Mangels, perhaps the best keeper in all of the USL League One. Rodriguez would have to successfully navigate both obstacles in order to equalize what was a 1-0 game.

And so Rodriguez stepped up and took his best shot at the keeper. His right-footed blast curled around the wall, angling to the right before looping back left. Mangels made a heroic attempt at swatting the ball away as he shifted to his right. However, Rodriguez’s shot sailed past him and equalized the game.  

For but a fleeting moment before this, the Chattanooga Red Wolves appeared well on their way to another home victory. North Texas’’ Edwin Cerrilo committed an unforgiveable sin by brushing his hand against the ball in the penalty area in the 22nd minute, giving all star winger Greg Hurst an opportunity to bang in a penalty kick.

The blazing quick forward was momentarily still, staring down the keeper until the referee blew the whistle. The right-footed Hurst shot across his body, aiming low and to the left. Texas’ Carlos Avilez dove gallantly but ultimately pointlessly as the ball rocked past his outstretched arms and into the net.

The rest of the half saw both squads attempt to break through, with plenty of corner kicks being awarded after aggressive downfield passes led to blocked crosses. Unfortunately for the Red Wolves, Nkosi Burgess put North Texas on top a few minutes after halftime. The defender was at least 25 yards from the ball when he handled a gorgeous free kick. On a ball that started it’s journey closer to midfield than the penalty box, it found it’s home at Burgess’ feet among a crowd of friends and foes.

Fortunately for North Texas, Burgess successfully ascertained control on the left side of the box. He essentially redirected the ball off the hop which made it rocket up into the top left corner of the net. Mangels had not chance at saving such an odd shot, and North Texas led 2-1 in the 48th minute. 

Ten minutes later, Chattanooga’s Travis Nicklaw earned himself a yellow card, which in and of itself was not a terrible action. However, his foul came in the penalty box, giving North Texas’ Alex Bruce a crack at doubling their lead. Bruce did just that, sending the shot into the top left corner of the net. 

The Chattanooga Red Wolves were unable to come back from such a commanding lead, and the 3-1 score remained affixed upon the scoreboard until the official blew the fulltime whistle. This marks the third straight loss for the Red Wolves, who now drop to fourth in the league at 5-5-3. Meanwhile, North Texas improves to 4-3-5 on the season. 


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