FORT WAYNE, Indiana – The Chattanooga Red Wolves downed Fort Wayne FC, 2-1, on the road Saturday in USL League One action. 

Joining the likes of Union Omaha to become just the second team to secure a victory at Fort Wayne’s “fortress,” they now head to Sarasota, Florida, where they will seek to conquer Sarasota Paradise a second time.

Having dropped its home opener to Fort Wayne, the Red Wolves were ravenous right out of the gate. Pedro Hernandez nearly topped Taig Healy’s lucky break from then, almost scoring in the first forty seconds off a long cross from Kinzner that was barely snatched up in time by Fort Wayne goalie Bernd Schipmann. 

It would be an exceedingly aggressive match from then, with Fort Wayne receiving a whopping five yellow cards compared to Chattanooga’s two. Despite that total, it would be the home side that got the scoring going, with a 30th minute corner kick that was swung in by Ryan Becher.

The final fifteen minutes of the half was an intense game of back-and-forth, with free kicks and crosses from the Wolves that were parried away or missed by a razor thin margin. In the 19th, Adewole took a marvelous cross into the box that Yanis Lelin met with a powerful kick—but too powerful, as it went just above the crossbar. 

The second half got spiced up.

Fort Wayne took to applying the pressure early on, but nothing they could do made it through to boost their lead. Smith made multiple remarkable saves, from deft deflections to spot-on swats that kept the Indiana team wanting.

It was the 49th when the long-awaited equalized smashed through the front door of the fort: Ropapa Mensah sent a cross into the box from way out, into what seemed merely open space, when who should be appear but Lelin, taking a flying kick to blast the assist in for a breathtaking equalizer. 

Hopes of a shutout gone, Fort Wayne went on the defensive and tried to regain their lead with another corner just two minutes later. Smith swatted it away, and the Wolves continued to battle.

A duo of late substitutions saw Mensah, Lelin, Kelly, and Wessels leave for Mercer, Lombardi, Vaughn, and Knapp. Fresh and feral, Mercer and Vaughn struck like lightning in the 82nd, when a lob from Vaughn ricocheted off the chest of an Indiana man and into the path of Greyson Mercer, who spared no time sending it past Schipmann to earn his third goal of the season. 

Playing catch-up, Fort Wayne became desperate to at least break even, but not even a free kick right in front of the box could bring them to equalize.

Chattanooga remained steadfast as the last of the sand fluttered to the bottom of the hourglass, and at the final whistle strode away from the fort with a full three points.

Joining the likes of Union Omaha to become just the second team to secure a victory at the fortress, they now head to Florida looking for a sweep in a match to be televised on ESPN+.

The Red Wolves head back to CHI Memorial the following Saturday where they will host the expansion team New York Cosmos. 

About Chattanooga Red Wolves SC

Founded in 2018 by Bob Martino, the Chattanooga Red Wolves SC are 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.