Chattanooga Red Wolves goalkeeper Alex Mangels makes a save in the team’s USL League One match Saturday night at David Stanton Field. The Red Wolves defeated Greenville Triumph SC 1-0 with a score in stoppage time.With time ticking away, the Chattanooga Red Wolves Soccer Club stepped up its attack that had been missing for most of Saturday night’s home match and pulled out a 1-0 victory over Greenville Triumph SC.
A pair of second-half substitutes helped lead the way. Sito Seoane fired a shot just over the top crossbar in the 89th minute and nearly missed a bicycle kick attempt soon after. Then steady veteran Eamon Zayed scored out of a scramble, rewarding the game-long brick-wall efforts of goalkeeper Alex Mangels.
After the Red Wolves’ Steven Beattie was fouled attacking the box from the left sideline, Vangjel Zguro sent in a free kick from just beyond top left corner of the box to a swarm of red jerseys crashing in.
The ball crashed around and Zayed connected on his fourth goal at David Stanton Field in as many games with two of the four minutes of final stoppage time left.
“It wasn’t a very fluid night in terms of offense,” Zayed said. “Greenville has only conceded five goals in eight games. That’s how the game looked like it would go. You play to the end and it drops. It was really sweet to score and redeem ourselves.”
Red Wolves players jumped the fence beyond the back net to go celebrate with their supporter group as they picked up their first win in USL League One play since April 20.
Chattanooga is now 3-0-1 on its home turf and 0-4-1 on the road.
Mangels would not budge in the net as he raised his league-leading saves total to 32 with a four-save shutout. The 6-foot-4 keeper made the right reads and was able to shut down an attack that came his way frequently at times.
Mangels made a diving deflection of a low, line-drive shot in the 68th minute and played above his attackers on crosses all game. His athleticism proved vital in finding payback for a 1-0 road loss to the South Carolina team (3-4-2) earlier in the season.
“I would like to not be at the top of the saves list, but if I have to that’s fine,” Mangels said. “I come out and try to be the best I can be every day and do my job so the other guys can score on the other end. Our keepers coach David Barrueta keeps me on my toes every day and honest.”
Tony Walls continued his strong play on the defensive end and nearly helped generate a scoring opportunity with a fancy pass backward over his head in the second half.
Chattanooga’s attacking combo of Beattie and newcomer Yaya Cisse just missed on a few runs in the first half.
Zayed’s score late provided relief after the Red Wolves lost twice and tied two other opponents over the past month. The veteran attacker is tied for second in the league in scores.
“We are perfectly fine and really strong at home,” Zayed said. “It’s just about us getting on a roll on the road and finding those three points. Everyone goes through some down moments in a season, and hopefully we can find that magic pill to win some away from here.”
The Red Wolves host Toronto FC at 7 p.m. next Saturday.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.