A goal for Greenville Triumph scored in the 71st minute proved to be enough to hand the Chattanooga Red Wolves their first loss of the 2020 season. Saturday night’s matchup between the first and third place teams in USL League One was a well fought battle between some of the best teams in the league.
Although it was the Chattanooga Red Wolves who looked to create more chances and dominate possession, it was the unbeaten league leaders who were able to take advantage of a chance and finish out the game. The Red Wolves looked especially dangerous in the first half, creating many early chances by forcing turnovers, creating quick counter-attacks going forward, and winning free kicks in dangerous positions. While holding the ball for 62% of the game and taking 25 shots, Greenville only took 7 shots with 1 being on target. However, Lachlan McLean’s goal, his first of the season, was enough to separate the two sides. Greg Hurst was a nuisance for the Greenville defense all night, pressuring the backline high and creating scoring opportunities, while Ricardo Zacarias proved to be a burden as well. He was able to break away from the Triumph defense and create very good chances back to back early in the game. However, an excellent showing from the Greenville keeper, who came up big against Zacarias and the Red Wolves offense, gave him the hard earned clean sheet. The Red Wolves were caught offside 8 times by the Greenville defense who held a high line, and as the game progressed, the quality of the Chattanooga opportunities decreased. Chattanooga forward Ricardo Zacharias was able to break away from the Triumph defense and get a few solid chances early in the game, but the Greenville keeper came up big, making saves that could have changed the game.
Greenville started to settle into the game by the time the second half rolled around, limiting decent scoring opportunities and moving the ball forward, testing the Red Wolves defense. The Greenville goal in the 71st minute, coming against the run of play, was enough to down the Red Wolves, who could not seem to capitalize on a chance. Lachlan’s first professional goal came when he finished the ball after receiving it around the PK spot, slotting it in the bottom right corner past Chattanooga’s Alex Mangels. It was around that time that Tanner Dietrech, on loan from the MLS team Nashville SC, made his Chattanooga debut. The closing minutes of the game saw one more solid chance from Marky Hernandez, who played an excellent game. After 5 minutes of stoppage time, the referee blew the final whistle ending the game, and extending Greenville Triumphs unbeaten streak to 5 games, while widening the gap as 1st in League One
The first Greenville home match with fans in 10 months, provided a tough atmosphere that will prove difficult for visiting teams throughout the season, but the Red Wolves will be eager to take revenge the next time they go head to head in CHI Memorial Stadium. This was a big win for Greenville over an excellent Chattanooga Red Wolves side, because it edges back a team that was on their heels, threatening them for their spot at the top of the league. This is only a temporary setback however, as the Red Wolves will plan to get back on track, with their eyes fixed on Tormenta FC on Saturday. This loss was only fuel for the fire as the Red Wolves were in it the whole game, and exceptionally dominant during the first half.
