The Red Wolves celebrate their first goal Saturday night in their 2-1 home win.
A strong first half gives the Chattanooga Red Wolves the edge over North Carolina FC in a nerve-racking 2-1 win.
An overly physical North Carolina granted multiple opportunities for Chattanooga within the opening minutes of play.
Red Wolves’ midfielder José Carrera-Garcia and forward Rafael Mentzingen threatened in the fourth minute as the duo connected on a cross and header, but quick reactions by North Carolina’s goalkeeper kept the ball in play.
After resetting their offense, Chattanooga’s Devin Benton would make a back-post run, receiving the pass from Mentzingen, and force an early corner kick. Chattanooga’s Moe Espinoza set up the corner kick and aimed directly for star striker Juan Galindrez. As the curling cross came through, the ball would be volleyed over the cross bar.
However, the center referee would call for a penalty kick due to a North Carolina handball. With new found life in the possession, Galindrez would step up to take the penalty kick. As he stared down the goalkeeper, Galindrez stood like a statue—the opposite of his fast-paced and flashiness playstyle.
During the stare down, Galindrez was able to pick out the goalkeeper’s preemptive plan—dive right.
Galindrez would take advantage of such and send a slow rolling, skidding ball into the center of the net. It was like a mockery of the goalie, as he laid to his side after already committing to the dive. Capitalizing on the penalty kick would vault the Red Wolves up, 1-0, in the 13th minute of action.
Chattanooga would cook the North Carolina defense like a pressure cooker. Chattanooga’s Timmy Mehl, Carrera, Benton, and Mentzingen strategically picked their holes in the defense, moving slowly up the field. When the attack would stall, defenders Mehl and Benton would set up yet another attack to keep play in North Carolina’s third of the field.
As the pressure built, the lid of the defense would finally pop off. Receiving an across the field pass, Mentzingen would be one on one with a defender. Opting out of his signature sole roll move, Mentzingen would fake out his defender and go towards the center of the field and not towards the goal.
Mentzingen was open for a split second and send a curling shot towards the opposite post. Just over the sliding defender and diving goalkeeper, Mentzingen’s shot found itself in the back of the net. A timely score as the first half would come to a close shortly after, and the Red Wolves would be up comfortable at 2-0.
A halftime pep talk must have given a much-needed boost to North Carolina as Chattanooga would be under duress for most of the second half.
Red Wolves goalkeeper Carlos Avilez’s quick hands would hold North Carolina off on multiple attacks, including a one-on-one back post opportunity.
Despite his efforts, Avilez allowed for one goal to streak by North Carolina FC’s Luis Arriaga. Arriaga’s shot from 25-yards out ricocheted off a Red Wolves defender at the last millisecond, resulting in the ball bending back to the right.
Avilez would shake off the goal and play a perfect remainder of the match. Multiple saves and
time-wasting antics frustrated the North Carolina offense.
A last attempt in the 90th minute by North Carolina would be denied by Chattanooga’s Aaron Lombardi and Nicolás Cardona, ending any hope of a draw.
With the win, Chattanooga ends a three-game losing streak and improving to a .500 record in the last six games (3-3). The Red Wolves have a week off until their next match, a home game against the tenth placed Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC.
Goals: Chattanooga (2): Galindrez, Mentzingen; North Carolina (1): Arriaga