Uafeli
The Chattanooga Red Wolves made their first international road trip of the USL League One campaign as they took on Toronto FC II at the BMO Training Ground and kept their unbeaten streak alive with a draw.
It was a match that provided Jimmy Obleda’s side several unique opportunities as well as several unprecedented challenges. A win or draw would break the USL League One record of 12 unbeaten matches, but the Red Wolves travelled with just 14 active players due to international travel restriction.
Alec Marshall signed with the side from youth academy Park City for the match, and Sebastian Mora-Mora travelled with both a goalkeeper kit and an outfield kit in case a substitute was needed.
With Josue España the only regularly named outfield player on the bench for the Red Wolves, the side came out with a solid defensive shape not looking to give up anything easy to TFC II.
The first half saw a feeling out period for both sides, with neither team creating many clear-cut opportunities on a warm and breezy day in Toronto. Julian Dunn and Luke Singh, the center back pairing called down from MLS side and parent club Toronto FC, played well and frustrated a rotated Red Wolves attack that saw Blake Frischknecht get the starting spot up top.
The Red Wolves best first half opportunity came in the 36th minute when Jackson Dietrich dove to get his head on a Marky Hernandez header, but the header was comfortably saved by Vaikla. Throughout the first half and into the second half, the Red Wolves defended valiantly, denying a talented group of attacking players from TFC II any real opportunities at goal.
The Red Wolves would be the side to come out with attacking impetus to start the second half, with Frischknecht and Ruiz both getting outstanding looks at goal that they unfortunately could not finish. The game would go quiet for a long stretch of the second half as TFC II made subs to press at a fatigued Red Wolves side, but even leading goal scorer Garrett Mclaughlin’s introduction was not enough to break down the away side.
The scare of the game from TFC II came in the 80th minute, when Antonio Carlini’s chipped effort over Trilk came within inches of the net, instead bouncing off the left post. On the brink of making league history, the Red Wolves made history of their own by bringing on Alec Marshall to make his first team debut, a well-earned moment from the academy prospect from Park City, Utah.
A resolute Red Wolves side would make history Friday afternoon, as Obleda’s side earned what might be the most impressive point of the season short handed in Toronto.
The draw means that the Red Wolves now hold the USL League One record of unbeaten matches, extending their streak to 13.
Their coach called it "a testament to the fight and tenacity of the club and the players, and a well-earned place in the record books."
The Red Wolves are back in action and looking to extend their unbeaten streak to 14 games Saturday at 7:30 p. EST as they take on Fort Lauderdale at DRV PNK Stadium.
Capozucchi