Chattanooga Red Wolves SC climbed into fifth place in the USL League One standings on Saturday, defeating the Richmond Kickers 2-0 at City Stadium.
Looking for their first road win of the season, the Red Wolves used second half goals from Ami Pineda and Sito Seoane to clinch the historic win.
Here are three takeaways from the match:
Dynamic Duo
Pineda and Seoane scored both goals for the Red Wolves in the match and each assisted on the other player’s goal.
Pineda started the match while Seoane came on as a sub in the 60th minute. Seoane’s impact was made immediately in the 62nd minute. Off a counter attack, Seoane dribbled the ball down the left side of the field before cutting back. He then timed a perfect pass to Pineda, who was just onside, behind the defense. Pineda put the ball in the back of the net to give the Red Wolves a 1-0 lead.
Then, it was Seoane’s turn to be the recipient of the perfect pass. The Red Wolves took a quick set piece from just inside their own half in the second minute of added time. The ball ended up at Pineda’s feet who shielded a defender just outside the box until Seoane passed by. Pineda then made a pass to Seoane who was charging into the box. From a difficult angle on the right side of the goal, Seoane bent the ball past the goalkeeper and into the bottom left corner of the net to seal the match.
It was both the first goal and assist of the season for Pineda and Seoane.
Mangels reclaims saves lead
With four saves in Saturday’s win, goalie Alex Mangels took back the saves lead from Richmond’s Akira Fitzgerald. Mangels now has 37 saves on the season.
In the first half, Mangels kept the game scoreless in the 32nd minute with a diving save to his left off of a rocket shot just outside of the box. After the Red Wolves went up by a goal in the second half, Mangels help keep that one goal lead. In a minute span late in the second half, Mangels made a diving save and then, on a Richmond attack, came out of goal and kicked a dangerous pass away from and off of the Richmond player and out for a goal kick.
Once again late in the second half, Mangels kept the Red Wolves in front off a corner by Richmond. The ball bounced around in the box and to the foot of a Richmond player right in front of goal. But Mangels dove on the ball before the shot. Along with his four saves, Mangels also had one punch.
It was Mangels fourth clean sheet of the season which puts him in a tie for third in the league.
Navarro makes first start
With the Red Wolves on a three-game loan from El Paso Locomotive FC, Daniel Navarro made his first start for Chattanooga and was a key part of the clean sheet.
Navarro attempted 41 passes in the match, completing 36 of them for an 81.8 percent passing accuracy. He won five duels along with one aerial dual and had three tackles and two clearances. Navarro started the game at center back alongside Nicholas Amponsah.
Navarro will be with the team for one more game, but the option to extend the short-term loan is available.
Up next
The Red Wolves begin a three-game home stand on Saturday as they take on Greenville Triumph SC at David Stanton Field. That match kicks off at 7 p.m. ET. For tickets, visit chattredwolves.com/tickets.
