Red Wolves Punch Ticket to the USL League One Playoffs
October 11, 2022 – United Soccer League One (USL1) – Chattanooga Red Wolves SC News Release
Coach Weekley and the Chattanooga Red Wolves clinched their spot in the USL League One Playoffs for the second year in a row on Saturday night thanks to a 0-1 win over North Carolina FC. Making history, Red Wolves Academy graduate Yahir Paez, became the first Academy player to debut in a first-team match as a starter.
The first chance of the match for the Red Wolves would fall to Moe Espinoza in the 5th minute, who collected a pass from Jose Carrera-Garcia and fired at goal from outside the box with his shot just going over the crossbar. Minutes later, it was a massive defensive effort from Nicolas Cardona to deny NCFC a sure goal as he dove across to deny Garrett McLaughlin. After a cagey next 15 minutes, it would be Timmy Mehl with the next chance for the Red Wolves as he fired from long range and just barely missed what would have been a sensational goal as his shot whizzed over the bar. Two minutes later it would be Josue España with an effort on goal, and it took a big save from Holliday in the North Carolina goal to deny the Red Wolves the opener.
The game would slow down in the next ten minutes as four yellow cards were issued in a stop and go spell that saw three for the hosts and one for the visitors. The Red Wolves would begin to pepper the North Carolina box with crosses and Danny Navarro would produce a shot on target as he headed well from an Espinoza cross requiring a save from the NCFC goalkeeper. The sustained pressure from the visitors would not see a goal however, and the match would remain level heading into halftime at 0-0.
Coach Weekley would make a change to start the second half as Juan Galindrez replaced Yahir Paez, and it would not take long for the change to pay off. Carrera-Garcia would play a great ball into Galindrez, and Galigol would make no mistake as he took a touch from a different angle and fired a powerful shot that the NCFC goalkeeper was not able to keep out as the Red Wolves took a 0-1 lead.
After a Red Wolves dominated 15 minutes, Lombardi would create a chance via a fantastic ball into the box, Galindrez would leave it brilliantly for España in the box and his sliding effort would go just inches over the bar to deny the visitors a well-worked second goal. The Red Wolves would make their second change in the 67th minute, as Jorge Paez came on to replace Josue España in midfield. Three minutes later, it looked like the hosts had leveled as McLaughlin fired at goal, but Carlos Avilez would make a world-class stop to deny the hosts and keep the Red Wolves in the lead.
The 75th minute would see a triple change for the Red Wolves, as Ivan Gutierrez, Rey Ortiz and Ualefi were introduced in place of Espinoza, Rafa Mentzingen and Jimmie Villalobos. Just a minute later, Nelson Blanco would see a second yellow card as NCFC were reduced to ten men with just 15 minutes of regular time left in the match. Ivan Gutierrez would have a crack at goal in the 80th minute, but his effort from outside the box would whiz past the top-left corner. Into 5 minutes of stoppage time the Red Wolves would continue to control the match, with Jorge Paez and Juan Galindrez coming close in the added time. However, there would be no more goals and the match would end 0-1.
With the win, the Red Wolves officially clinched their spot in the USL League One Playoffs for the second straight season. The Red Wolves will be waiting anxiously to see their first round opponent, but will first play their season finale on the road against South Georgia Tormenta FC.
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