North Texas travelled to CHI Memorial Stadium Wednesday night for a matchup against Jimmy Obleda’s Chattanooga Red Wolves. Both teams came into the match nursing impressive unbeaten streaks, with the home side looking to build on a record-breaking 14 game streak while North Texas looked to get to 10 straight without a loss.
The first half of the match saw some stop and go action at CHI Memorial, as both sides attempted to get a foothold in the game facing stellar defenses. The Red Wolves got great production from Jimmie Villalobos in the first half, partnering well with Ualefi and Jose Carrera-García in the middle of the park.
Coming off two straight clean sheets, Tim Trilk continued his dominance in goal for the home side,
including a wonderful save in the 27th minute to deny a sure North Texas goal. Despite both sides finding their footing in the last 20 minutes of the half, neither side could find a breakthrough as they went into the half tied at 0-0.
The second half started with a substitution from Manager Obleda, bringing on super-sub-Marky
Hernandez in place of Jackson Dietrich who worked hard in the first 45 minutes. The Red Wolves would grow to control the match more in the second half, looking very good in their midfield press while demonstrating the ferocity of their counterattack. It looked like the Red Wolves had found the breakthrough in the 71st minute after Marky Hernandez tucked a cross beautifully into the side netting, but the offside flag went up. Needing fresh legs Obleda turned to his bench once again bringing on Josue España for Ualefi and Blake Frishcknecht for JuanGalindrez.
Right after the substitution, Frischknecht immediately made his impact getting his head on a cross, the ball fell to Marky Hernandez who was unbelievably denied at close range by Colin Shutler. After a goalkeeping showcase from Tim Trilk in goal the previous 15 minutes, Obleda looked to change the dynamic of the match by bringing on Ronaldo Pineda in the 90th minute. However, as North Texas has become accustomed to, the Red Wolves would not give up. For the third time this campaign, the Red Wolves found a stoppage time goal against North Texas, and it was Jimmie Villalobos on the end of a beautiful cross from Jonathan Ricketts. The man of the match’s goal would prove to be decisive, and an absolutely crucial three points for the Red Wolves would bring their unbeaten run to 15 games and put them in sole possession of first place in USL League One.