The Red Wolves were back home once again on Wednesday night to play host to South Georgia Tormenta FC in a rematch from earlier in the 2021 campaign when the Red Wolves fell to a 1-0 defeat in Statesboro. The Red Wolves would score late to earn the 2-1 win.
After three straight draws, Obleda and the squad came out motivated in the first half, sporting an intense, high-pressing style of play that they have patented all season long. The match started out brightly for the Red Wolves, who created chances through Juan Galindrez and Jason Ramos. After holding Tormenta at bay for 25 minutes, the Red Wolves finally found the breakthrough.
A brilliant through ball from Jose Carrera-Garcia played in Jonathan Ricketts who played
across brilliantly to Juan Galindrez who tapped it home with aplomb for a 1-0 Red Wolves lead.
His sixth goal of the campaign put the home side ahead on the night and gave them a lead to
improve upon. Tormenta would create a couple chances, Stefan Muller would try from range in
the 28th minute, and Luca Mayr-Fälten would have a go in the 35th minute from a free kick, but
Tim Trilk did well in goal to deny both opportunities. In what was an even first half, the Red
Wolves created the better chances and were rewarded with a 1-0 lead heading into halftime at
CHI Memorial Stadium.
The second half started with flurries of substitutions and stoppages of play as the match
grew fragmented due to an increasingly prevalent whistle. After a half that was played evenly,
the Red Wolves once again fell on the wrong side of the whistle, as Tormenta was awarded a
penalty following the referee calling a foul on Sebastian Capozucchi in the box. The squad’s
leading goal scorer Marco Micaletto stepped up to slot it past Tim Trilk and tie the match up at
1-1.
As the second half wore on, Manager Jimmy Obleda called on Rafael Mentzingen to
change the game, and he delivered in a big way. Substitutes linked up in the 87th minute, as
Marky Hernandez played a fantastic ball into the box that was thundered home by the head of
Rafa, turning the tide and putting the home side ahead 2-1. Late pressure from Tormenta wasn’t
enough to change the narrative, and the Red Wolves took home 3 points for the first time in 4
games on the back of yet another dramatic end.
The Red Wolves look to keep the momentum going Saturday, July 17 at 9 PM EST, as Obleda
and the squad travel west to take on North Texas SC at Globe Life Park in Arlington.