The third place Chattanooga Red Wolves welcomed second place Greenville Triumph for a high stake’s showdown at the Den in USL League 1. The Triumph escaped with one point, but the Red Wolves still have two games in hand and are only four points out of first as it ended in a draw.
The Red Wolves walked out of the locker room in their all red kits and from the first whistle the atmosphere was tense. It felt like a big game and the play on the field showed it.
Both squads rigidly maintained their shape and avoided any aggressive attacks that might catch them out in transition.
Chattanooga created the first few chances early, but nothing really tested Greenville keeper Dallas Jaye. The first real action of the game came in the ninth minute with the first of a total of eight yellow cards in the match, all on the Red Wolves.
Through the first 20 minutes the Red Wolves were the better team, but that didn’t stop Greenville midfielder Allen Gavilanes from putting his team up 1-0. In fact, it was an own goal off a desperate attempt by Red Wolves defender Johnathan Esparza to stop the inevitable.
Gavilanes’ streak into the box was the first time the Triumph had been anywhere near the Red Wolves net all night, but they were able to capitalize. For the second home game in a row Chattanooga went down a goal early in the match.
Unlike last weekend’s game the Red Wolves quickly answered with a well-worked goal of their own. Defender Johnathan Ricketts launched a cross from the right sideline to the left side of the 18-yard box. Left winger Josue Espana chested the ball at full sprint and blasted a shot at Jaye who pushed the ball straight out in front of himself.
The ball bounced out toward crashing Red Wolves striker Blake Frischknecht who leapt up and roped one into the back of the net. The lead up to the goal was the best sequence of play Chattanooga put together all night and they were rewarded for it.
After a few more yellow cards the Red Wolves went into halftime all level at 1-1. Outside of the back to back goals the first half was uneventful. Chattanooga was the better team, but not by much.
Early in the second half Red Wolves goalie Sebastian Mora-Mora was called into action for the first and only time. He made a good diving save to his left to stop a short stint of attacking possession from Greenville.
The second half started off slow and after 5 minutes Red Wolves Head Coach Jimmy Obleda went to his bench for a spark from Juan Galindrez and Mark Hernandez. In last week’s victory at home Obleda made the same two substitutions at the same time and they made an immediate impact.
The same tensions that stalked the first half were still present in the second and at the 52nd minute a full-blown fight broke out. Red Wolves Head Coach Jimmy Obleda was shown his second yellow card and was asked to leave the pitch. He waved to the fans as he left.
Hernandez did create space and deliver a few good crosses from the left and Galindrez did put two solid efforts on goal, including one in the 88th minute that he probably should have made. But the substitutes weren’t enough, and the game ended in a 1-1 draw after a few more yellow cards.
Greenville stays one point ahead of Chattanooga in the USL League 1 standing but third place Chattanooga has two games in hand on the teams in first and second. The next Red Wolves home game will be Saturday, July 10, vs FC Tucson.
Summary:
Chattanooga Red Wolves – Frischknecht (24’)
Greenville Triumph – Esparza (19’)OG