RICHMOND, V.A. – The Chattanooga Red Wolves battled the Richmond Kickers to a 1-1 draw, Saturday on the road in USL League One play.
The Red Wolves will return home this Wednesday for a rematch against Forward Madison FC.
The Wolves were chomping at the bit to get the match going. Weather had pushed kickoff back an hour, and once the whistle sounded, they raced forward like a nail into the heart of Richmond.
In just the second minute, Bentley received a pass and drove it to right outside the box, where he was fouled by Richmond’s Mujeeb Murana. Murana would take a card, and stepping up for the following free kick was Omar Hernandez, who arced his shot perfectly over the wall of players and into the top right of the net.
Chattanooga showcased a stellar defense throughout the match, limiting the hosts to just two shots on target the entire night. Adewole and Ramos made busy with clearances and interceptions that kept Richmond in perpetual frustration, and Pedro and Lelin made multiple crosses into their box in near-perfect attempts to up the lead. Missing final touches on the receiving ends and just-wide headers from corners would prove the restraint for what was an otherwise admirable performance.
New signing Brandon McManus would have his time to shine as well, in the 71st lifting the ball over the Kickers’ goalie and into the net—the goal was disallowed on account of offsides, but was radiant in displaying his tact and finishing capacity.
As the clock hit the 85th minute, tensions boiled.
Richmond’s Owen O’Malley was shown a red card after a foul, and in apparent response, his team surged ever so briefly. Only five minutes after, a pass into the Wolves’ box that was initially deflected by Adewole wound up finding their Zahir Vasquez, who sent a shot trickling just barely into the visitor’s net.
Doubly aware with the equalizer onset, Chattanooga steeled defenses for the remainder of stoppage time, maintaining fortifications until the end. A final press nearly allowed Pedro another shot, but the final whistle came too quickly.
The Red Wolves had dominated the scoring all night, hindered only by the host’s last-minute miracle. Even so, the point gained moves them into 6th place, and ranking is growing only more crucial as teams are beginning to clinch their spots in the postseason.
About Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
Founded in 2018 by Bob Martino, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC is a professional soccer club competing in USL League One. The club is committed to building a victorious culture rooted in enduring values, elite talent development, and giving back to the greater Chattanooga community. As a pillar in the region, the Red Wolves strive to inspire the next generation of players and fans by fostering excellence and integrity.
