Photo by One Knox SC (@OneKnoxSC)
By Dominic Throngard
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The struggles continue for One Knoxville SC in their first USL1 campaign as the team lost 3-2 Saturday night to the Chattanooga Red Wolves, marking their seventh match in a row without a win.
One Knox got off to a red-hot start in this one and looked leagues above Chattanooga for the first twenty minutes or so with Villalobos converting in the early stages to take the lead with an absolute missile from the top of the box set up by some delicate attacking play from new man Gio Calixtro and Jake Keegan assisting. The contest looked ready to be incredibly lopsided, but Chattanooga finally began to find some firmer ground towards the mid stages of the first half. Unfortunately for Knoxville, Sean O’Hearn went down with an injury, which led to Leinhos coming on in his place in the 33rd minute. Despite Chattanooga looking a tad better towards the half’s conclusion, One Knox still looked in control.
Half two looked to be much of the same until Chattanooga converted on a free kick with a wonder strike from Ryley Kraft curling into the back of the net in minute 61 after a Dani Fernandez yellow card created the chance about five to ten yards outside the Knoxville box. One Knox didn’t wait long to respond though and countered with Leinhos streaking down the wing to find Johnson by the penalty spot to slot it right in the back corner of the net. Knoxville looked on fire once more, but disaster managed to strike again for the club when Chattanooga broke into the box and Swinkels missed the ball, catching legs instead, gifting Chattanooga a penalty opportunity that Marsh converted for the side to level the contest at 2-2. Chattanooga then caught the Knoxville defense asleep and Marsh converted again for his brace, sliding the ball right between Swinkels legs and into the back of the net. Knoxville pushed for the draw but came up empty handed losing 3-2.
After the game Knoxville’s Villalobos said, “Obviously wanted to come into the game and get the three points you know, but we’re sticking together, that’s the main thing… We bounce back, and stay as a team.”
The team has a big road trip on deck playing three away matches against Central Valley, Omaha, and Madison with their first game against Central Valley in Fresno happening next Saturday at 10:00 p.m. ET. Knoxville has another quality opportunity to get back on track in Fresno with the Fuego also sitting bottom of the table with Chattanooga.