On Feb. 16, 2020, the Chattanooga Red Wolves began their preseason schedule against USL Championship team Atlanta United 2. On a brisk Sunday afternoon, the first whistle blows, and the team goes to work. During the weeks leading up to this match, Coach Obleda has been working on the team’s style of play. It is a high-energy, high press, aggressive style that proved to be effective in yesterday’s match. The Chattanooga Red Wolves went home the victors, and the score was 4-0 at the end of the match.
The game consisted of three thirty-minute periods, and the boys from Chattanooga scored in all three periods. To break the ice, Ami Pineda scored a free-kick from outside of the box, approximately 24 yards from the goal. He bent the ball around the left side of the wall with pace, and finished it in the top left corner of the goal. Pineda then later when on to score the second goal of the match during the second period. At a similar distance but towards the right side, Pineda goes over the wall and places the ball in the near post side netting.
In the third period, Ricardo Zacarias got a well-earned goal. While playing in the outside forward position he pressed the opposing outside back who was receiving a switching ball from the center back. Zacarias blocked the ball on a failed clearance and took it to goal on a 35 yard solo run. Once one on one with the keeper he buried it in the goal.
To finish off the match, Ami Pineda served a lofted through ball to Eamon Zayed running into the box. Zayed took one touch to bring it down, and performed a cross-body shot to slot it by the back post.
The team displayed an exceptional amount of chemistry. This is a great feat as about half of the team is new this year. Everyone had a chance to play, and for some, it was an unofficial professional debut. All of the rookies and younger players played well. This a great point for the team to build from, and the club, fans, and city look forward to how they come together leading up to the first match on March 27th at Greenville.
