Chattanooga, TN. (May 22, 2021) – The Red Wolves welcomed supporters back to CHI Memorial Stadium for the first time in the 2021 campaign Saturday evening looking to keep an unbeaten start to the campaign alive. The supporters were a driving force for the home side, as a storybook evening was capped off with an unbelievable stoppage time winner for Jason Ramos as the Red Wolves squeaked out a 2-1 victory against Fort Lauderdale CF.
Coach Obleda’s squad once again came flying out of the gate with a slightly tweaked starting XI that introduced Blake Frischknecht and Josue Espana. The attacking duo earned a starting role with game changing substitute appearances and a quickfire brace from Espana on the road in Gillette Stadium. Espana’s inclusion in the starting XI paid off quickly as he received a beautiful pass from Jimmie Villalobos out wide, cutting inside with force and finishing past Fort Lauderdale’s keeper to put Chattanooga up 1-0. The first half continued in what was a cagey and intense affair on the pitch at CHI Memorial, as the Red Wolves controlled the game with fluid passing between the lines and a relentless pressure that made life difficult for Fort Lauderdale CF.
Jonathan Esparza and Frischknecht stood out alongside the Red Wolves superstar midfield three. Esparza’s pace down the wing from the back was difficult for the away side to deal with, and the resulting pinpoint crosses made their backline work hard to keep Frischknecht off the scoresheet. As the game progressed into the second half, Fort Lauderdale grew into the game and their effort was rewarded in the 72nd minute, as Ethan Hardin rose highest to head a corner home to tie the game at 1-1.
But on a night like Saturday night, the Red Wolves simply would not be denied. As stoppage time rolled in and the fans got louder, the home side won a free kick with only a sliver of time left on the clock. Captain Jose Carrera-Garcia would take it, placing it beautifully in the middle of the box, and Jason Ramos got on the end of the free kick, firing past the keeper to steal a dramatic three points at CHI Memorial. When asked about the moment, Ramos reiterated his desire to win saying, “I told him [Carrera], ‘give the ball to me, I want it, I’m going to win it.” He went on to praise his team emphasizing, “Minute 89, minute 94 we’re going to keep fighting, we’re going to try to get the win every time.”
Jason Ramos was the hero on the pitch, but Coach Obleda made sure to express his gratitude to the 2,072 fans in attendance, “The atmosphere tonight was incredible, the fans were loud and supporting us every step of the way and I really feel that that played a huge role in getting us across the finish line with 3 points. It’s always important to me to deliver for our fans, I feel they left with a degree of satisfaction and happiness that their team won.” He went on to detail the fans impact on the game saying, “When we play, we want the fans involved in what we do, and they were massive tonight… so today, the twelfth man helped us win. The twelfth man, the fans, helped us win today.”
Coach Obleda and his squad will be thrilled to be back in front of fans at home Saturday, May 29, as the Red Wolves battle the Richmond Kickers at CHI Memorial at 7 PM EST.
