Despite mud-soaked conditions at Chi Memorial Stadium, the Chattanooga Red Wolves battled to a 3-1 victory at home, handing FC Naples its second loss of the season.
FC Naples, the first-year club, who sit second in the table, opened the scoring in the 10th minute after Jayden Onen caught Jason Smith off his line. Onen received a layoff from forward Karsen Henderlong, took a touch and a look up, and hit the shot from the edge of the center circle, which would clip the inside of the post to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage.
In the 41st minute, Joshua Ramos would get by a defender and deliver a driven ball on the ground to Pedro Hernandez, who would tuck it home first time to bring the game level. Hernandez would find space between the FC Naples defenders, and a clinical finish would give him his first goal of the season and bring the Red Wolves back on level terms.
Center back Michael Knapp had two critical slide tackles before the half, denying two shot attempts on target from FC Naples Karsen Henderlong. The two teams went into the break all knotted up at one.
The second half would see Chattanooga SC with most of the opportunities, including one from Ramos in the 69th minute that came from just outside the 18-yard box and nearly clipped the outside of the post. The field conditions made it tough for both sides to create quality opportunities and to maintain possession.
Later on, in the 82nd minute Chattanooga caught Naples with a quick restart and a ball in behind found the team's leading goal scorer, Matthew Bentley, in on goal, but Naples goalkeeper Edward Delgado would come up big with leading to a corner for the Red Wolves. The Red Wolves would capitalize off the corner after Michael Knapp scored his first goal as a member of Chattanooga, as he jumped on a ball that was batted down and sat inside the six-yard box. The goal would give the host a 2-1 advantage in the 84th minute and potentially the three points.
“When we built this roster, we searched for the right person as much as the right player”, Head Coach and Technical Director Scott Mackenzie stated. “We wanted people with work ethic, who put the team first, who were gritty, resilient, and who could find joy in the process. This group has shown those qualities in abundance in huge games so far this season, but no more than on Wednesday afternoon. Huge performance, huge result, huge fight. We might not always be the prettiest, but we are always the toughest.”
FC Naples would continue to fight back in stoppage time, applying pressure and grabbing a corner with just over a minute to play. The visitors would bring their goalkeeper forward in hopes of recording the game-tying goal, but that would work in the hosts' favor. Red Wolves goalkeeper, Jason Smith, would punch the initial delivery out to Bentley, who would go box to box, battling past two defenders to tuck in the insurance goal and take all three points.
Following the completion of the game, three red cards were handed out as tempers flared. FC Naples, Edward Delgado, and Jake Dengler were shown red, as well as Chattanooga SC's Michael Knapp.
With the win, Chattanooga SC earns its second win of the year and currently sits sixth in the table with 10 points. Coach Mackenzie and his squad sit just two points behind fourth and are four points out of second.
Chattanooga SC will be back in action on Saturday, May 24, versus South Georgia Tormenta SC and will be aired on ESPN+ at 7:30 p.m.