Chattanooga Red Wolves Escape FC Naples With a 1-1 Draw
Things got rowdy in front of a sellout crowd at Paradise Coast Sports Complex.
Nearly 14 months after being announced as a 2025 expansion club, FC Naples took the pitch in front of a sell out crowd a the Paradise Coast Sports Complex. The brand new club faced one of the league’s originals, Chattanooga Red Wolves to start the season.
FC Naples Head Coach Matt Poland put together a diverse roster of USL and NISA veterans, MLS NextPro age-outs, and first-time and returning professionals. While the defense was fairly predictable, we still did not know how exactly he’d line up the offense.
The visitors entered the season with a new-look offense, after losing its top four goal scorers in off season free agency. Led by returning Head Coach Scott Mackenzie, Chattanooga signed Matt Bentley in the off season, and promoted returnees Jonny Filipe and Omar Hernández to the top line. Bentley played for the Richmond Kickers in 2022 and 2023, while Filipe spent nearly all of the 2024 season injured. Hernández scored just one goal in 25 appearances in his first professional season last year with Chattanooga.
While Chattanooga had several chances early, none found their way on target. It was FC Naples with three shots on target, all saved by first-year professional goalkeeper Jason Smith.
Chattanooga came out with the momentum in the second half, with Filipe, Jaosn Ramos, and Eric Kinzner linking up well on the left, but it was on the right where the magic was made. In the 48th minute, the Red Wolves won a corner. Omar Hernández took it short, passing to Filipe who returned the favor. Hernández rifled a long range bomb from a difficult angle on the right, with his left-foot and it sailed passed a helpless Delgado and into the goal. While it’s not certain if Hernández was crossing or shooting, it was nonetheless a beautiful goal. It was the 23 year old’s second professional goal in his second season with Chattanooga.
Eight minutes later, FC Naples’ Jayden Onen intercepted the ball and ran the length of the field at Chattanooga’s goal, only for Ramos to brilliantly block his shot. The follow-up from Karsen Henderlong was saved by Smith and a golden opportunity at an equalizer was squandered.
However, as the second half went on, the momentum shifted to FC Naples. Chattanooga coach Mackenzie traveled with just four outfield players on his bench, and had to be stingy with his substitutions. Chattanooga’s starting players started wearing down, giving Naples an advantage, leading to increased pressure in Chattanooga’s third.
Naples center back Jake Dengler nearly equalized with a shot that went off the crossbar. However, Naples was still unable to get one through until a penalty kick from an unfortunate, and clearly incidental handball by Kinzner. Sliding on a clean block attempt, a Naples pass from Max Glasser hit his outstretched hand, forcing the call.
Naples’ Andrés FerrÃn took the penalty kick, putting away his first USL goal after joining the squad from the youth system of Colombian club Once Caldas.
By stoppage time, the already chippy match turned chaotic. After a Tyler Plasnik goal for Naples was called off, play turned back the other direction. Tempers flared as Naples keeper Delgado scooped up a shot, colliding with Chattanooga players. A brawl ensued, and in the chaos, Chattanooga’s Tobi Jnohope was sent off with a red card.
Minutes later, the match ended with a 1-1 draw.
Match Takeaways
Chattanooga’s starting 11 looked better than expected, but with only four outfield players on the bench, had to be stretched to the maximum. By the final third of the match, players started looking tired. Twice in the match, players were taken off with apparent injury without being replaced, only to return. This severe lack of depth will be a problem as inevitable injuries start piling up over a long season, especially with Chattanooga’s physical style of play.
Nonetheless, this was an important point on the road for the Red Wolves and some signs that this squad might be more competitive than some had worried. Some quality link-up play on the left between Filipe, Ramos, and Kinzner was promising, even if it was over on the right through Omar Hernández that the magic was made. To have only conceded a goal through a penalty, and not through open play, is also a positive note for this defense.
Naples showed glimpses of a strong attack, led by potential breakout star Ferrin. The winger not only scored his side’s only goal in a penalty conversion, but showed high pass accuracy and created two chances. He likely earned his starting role on the right wing moving forward.
Box Score
FC Naples - Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
Paradise Coast Sports Complex Stadium | Naples, FL
Final Score: Naples 1-1 Chattanooga Red Wolves
Attendance: 4,618
Scoring summary:
48': O. Hernández (CHA)
77’: FerrÃn (NAP) - penalty
Discipline:
23’: C. Heckenberg - yellow (NAP)
29’: M. Bentley - yellow (CHA)
42’: J. Filipe - yellow (CHA)
75’: E. Kinzner - yellow (CHA)
90+4’: K. O’Connor - yellow (NAP)
90+8: T. Jnohope - red (CHA)
Man of the Match (Phil): Max Glasser (NAP)
Man of the Match (Alex): Andrés Ferrin (NAP)
Line-ups:
FC Naples: Lalo Delgado; Brecc Evans, Julian Cisneros, Max Glasser, Jake Dengler; Kevin O’Connor, Luka Prpa (’90 Tyler Plasnik), Chris Heckenberg (71’ Marc Torrellas); Jayden Onen, Karsen Henderlong, Andrés FerrÃn (’82 Ian Cerro).
Subs not used: Joel Serrano, Gustavo Fernandes, Ian Garrett, Rodolfo Sulia, Rosco Rubinstein.
Injured/Scratched: Justin Weiss (undisclosed)
Head Coach: Matt Poland
Chattanooga Red Wolves: Jason Smith; Tobi Jnohope, Declan Watters, Eric Kinzner; Pedro Hernández, Michael Knapp, Ualefi (C), Joshua Ramos (74’ Jordan Aymbila); Omar Hernández (74’ Gharett Morris), Jonny Filipe (60’ Owen Green), Matt Bentley (93’ Kimball Jackson)
Subs not used: Ricardo Jérez.
Injured/Scratched: Grayson Mercer (lower body), Wynand Wessels (undisclosed)
Head Coach: Scott Mackenzie
Next Games
• March 15th, 19:00 (ET): FC Naples v Forward Madison FC, Chase Stadium, Paradise Coast Sports Complex Stadium, Naples, FL
• March 18th, 19:00 (ET): New Jersey Alliance v Chattanooga Red Wolves, Lubetkin Field, Newark, NJ (US Open Cup)
Great start for FC Naples! How was the pregame tailgate atmosphere? Supporters' side was organized & loud, or not? Has any supporters' groups emerged, with social media presence we can follow?