Match Day Information
Location: CHI Memorial Stadium, Chattanooga, TN
Reported attendance: 1,870
Weather: rainy, 56F
Match Notes – Red Wolves SC
Formation: 4-4-2
Absent from the roster: JD Meyers (scratch), Christian Enriquez (injury), Jonny Guadarrama (scratch), Felipe Liborio (injury), Ropapa Mensah (visa), Richard Rentería (visa)
Coach Ziggy Korytoski switched to a 4-4-2 setup, moving Mayele Malango from striker to right-wing, and starting Alex Tejera and Chevone Marsh up front.
Andrew Paoli returned to the starting role at center midfield after appearing off the bench in the last regular season match. Paoli scored the equalizer in the 60th minute.
Manuel Madrid made his regular season debut after debuting with the club earlier in the week in the US Open Cup. The center-back signed with the club in the off-season from USL Championship side Phoenix Rising.
Travis Nicklaw continues to rack up minutes after signing a 25 day contract on March 24th. The defender has started all three regular season matches for Chattanooga after not appearing with any club since 2020.
Notable on the bench: Korytoski swapped out Marsh and Nicklaw at the half in favor of Riley Kraft and Nico Cardona respectively. Pedro Hernandez made his regular season debut, subbing for Tejera in the 84th minute. Club veteran Moe Espinoza did not appear, nor did Jackson Brady.
Paoli’s equalizing goal came off of a deflected corner from Kraft in the 60th minute.
Walter Varela’s go-ahead goal came from a long clear from goalkeeper Carlos Avilez that found Kraft, who dropped the ball to Valera and then supplied a screen on Knoxville goalkeeper Sean Lewis as Varela’s pass trickled into the net.
Yellow cards: Marsh (25′), Williams (29′), Varela (83′)
Red Wolves SC Substitutions
IN: FW Riley Kraft 45′
OUT: FW Chevonne Marsh
IN: DF Nico Cardona 45′
OUT: DF Travis Nicklaw
IN: MF Pedro Hernandez 84′
OUT: FW Alex Tejera
IN: MF Yahir Paez 90+2′
OUT: MF Walter Varela
Match Notes – One Knoxville SC
Formation: 5-4-1
Absent from the roster: Gabriel Claudio, Kyle McDowell, Ahinga Selemani, Matthew Vowinkel. No information shared on the absent players.
Coach McKeever started the match with a defensive 5-4-1 setup.
Ilija Iič made his first regular season start and captaincy at striker. The 31-year old Serbian is a long-time USL Championship veteran, and got the first goal of the match on a penalty kick.
Frank Ross also made his first regular season start.
Right-back James Thomas exited the match with an apparent leg injury in the 38th minute. Thomas had received man of the match honors in the week one victory over Lexington SC.
Jan-Erick Leinhos made his regular season debut in Thomas’ replacement.
Sebastian Andreassen made his regular season debut at halftime, replacing center-back Jalen Crisler.
Notable on the bench: Forward Jake Keegan, defender Sean O’Hearn and midfielder Callum Johnson started on the bench after appearing the starting 11 in week one. All entered the match in the second half. Sam Fletcher did not appear.
Yellow cards: Skelton (5′), Crisler (23′), van der Pluijm (28′), Leinhos (43′) O’Hearn (63′), Kelly-Rosales (69′)
One Knoxville SC Substitutions
IN: DF Jan-Erick Leinhos 38′
OUT: DF James Thomas (injury)
IN: DF Sean O’Hearn 45′
OUT: MF Yesin van der Pluijm
IN: FW Sebastian Andreassen 45′
OUT: DF Jalen Crisler
IN: MF Callum Johnson 65′
OUT: MF Frank Ross
IN: FW Jake Keegan 72′
OUT: FW Ilija Ilič