Jimmy Obleda and company closed out a two-game home stand Saturday night as defending champions Greenville Triumph ventured to CHI Memorial attempting to slow down the red-hot Red Wolves. With both sides fighting for first place in the USL League One Standings, the match was played with intensity and passion on both ends but neither side could find the finishing dagger as the match ended level at CHI Memorial Stadium.
The first half started with intensity as the Red Wolves put their high intensity pressing play to the test against the Triumph. Several of Obleda’s squad got involved in the attacking adventures in the first half, with Jimmie Villalobos, Rey Ortiz and Blake Frischknecht all came close to opening the scoring within 20 minutes. However, Greenville opened the scoring in the 18th minute, as Allen Gavilanes cut inside and fired an effort that took a wicked bounce off of Jonathan Esparza. The deflection left Sebastian Mora-Mora helpless and gave the long throw specialist Esparza an unfortunate own goal.
But, in fashion supporters have seen all season, the Red Wolves would show their resilience after conceding first. Five minutes after conceding, hometown star Jonathan Ricketts curled a perfect pass into the box for Josue España who fired a stinging effort at the Triumph goal that came crashing off the woodwork and fell perfectly to target man Blake Frischknecht. The striker who has been a central part to the Red Wolves attack this season fired into an empty net registering a well-deserved first goal as a Chattanooga player. The remainder of the first half would see both sides battle hard with neither finding the second breakthrough, keeping the score level going into a critical second half.
Obleda turned to a familiar super substitution duo five minutes into the second half, introducing Marky Hernandez and Juan Galindrez in place of Frischknecht and Ortiz. The next 10 minutes saw Galindrez make his mark with two attempts at the Greenville goal, neither of which found the back of the net. With manager Obleda having been sent off the pitch for a second yellow card violation, the cardiac Red Wolves searched for inspiration as the second half drew on. Ronaldo Pineda was introduced alongside fan favorite Rafael Mentzingen, who made his first appearance of the season on a return from injury. Both men made their mark on the match but in the end the sides fought to a hard-earned point to keep the heat on Union Omaha who sit atop the table.
The race for first place in the league heats up as the Red Wolves head out to Papillion, Nebraska for a mettle test against current league leaders Union Omaha on Saturday, July 3 at 9 PM EST in Werner Park.
