WHAT TO WATCH FOR AND WHAT TO EXPECT
Following a big win at home, the Chattanooga Red Wolves head up to Lexington, Kentucky for their second match of the season against Lexington SC. The two clubs last met at CHI Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 29th where Chattanooga picked up the win with three goals in just ten minutes from Nico Cardona, Ropapa Mensah, and Mayele Malango. The clubs’ next and final meeting will be in Lexington on September 23rd.
The Red Wolves last outing saw a strong first half performance with the team carrying a two goal lead into half time. Ropapa Mensah opened the scoring in the 37th minute with his third goal of the season off a free kick from Moe Espinoza, who notched his third assist of the year. Chevone Marsh added the second tally shortly thereafter for his second goal of 2023 and the final goal of the match. Goalkeeper Carlos Avilez and the Red Wolves defense blanked Forward Madison’s barrage of shots in the second as they looked to get on the board but were held off until the final whistle for the Red Wolves’ third victory at home.
Lexington SC enters the match coming off of a 1-1 draw against South Georgia Tormenta FC in Statesboro, GA, for the third straight draw; 1-1 against One Knoxville SC and 2-2 against Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC. Tormenta got on the board early in the match with a sixth minute goal off of a penalty kick. Lexington got their equalizer in the 16th minute from Ates Diouf. The game would end with the final score of 1-1 after a heavy hitting, but scoreless, second half.
The Red Wolves play their next match on the road against Greenville for the first meeting of 2023 before returning to action at home against Charlotte Independence for Tacos & Tequila Night and post-match fireworks at CHI Memorial Stadium.
RENTERÍA AND TEJERA ADDED TO RED WOLVES INJURY REPORT
While Christian Enriquez played his first minutes since April 1st against his former team in last Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Forward Madison, the Red Wolves still await the return of Andrew Paoli on the frontline. Alex Tejera has also been added to the list of injuries with a torn meniscus.
The Chattanooga Red Wolves will also be without Manuel Madrid and Richard Rentería due to hamstring injuries while fellow backfielder Aarón Lombardi is probable for the match.
