USL1: Match Preview- Chattanooga Red Wolves SC v Sarasota Paradise
- Philip Farrell
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
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Match: Chattanooga Red Wolves SC v Sarasota Paradise
Date: Saturday, May 9th, 2026. 15:00 (Eastern)
Venue: CHI Memorial Stadium Stadium, East Ridge, TN.
Capacity: 2,500
How to watch: ESPN+
EAST RIDGE, TN --- It was just three minutes into their away game at AC Boise last week that the Chattanooga Red Wolves went behind. After a 37th minute Omar Gómez own goal, not even a strike from the great Omar Hernández was enough to haul them back into the game. It was the Red Wolves’ third loss in a row, all to new teams in the league. On Saturday they play a fourth new team in-a-row. Is a fourth loss possible?
The Red Wolves (P:4 W:1 D:1 L:2 GF:5 GA:6 GD:-1 PTS:4 in the league) look a bit rudderless these days. Sitting in 15th place, it's fair to say their league season hasn’t gone well so far. Add to this the First Round US Open Cup exit at the hands of UPSL’s Tennessee Tempo and a home loss to USL League One’s bottom side Corpus Christi in the USL Cup, and a picture is painted of a wounded wolf pack. The year had started so well with a 2-1 comeback win at Greenville Triumph on opening day Match 14. Since then, though, they’re winless in all competitions (five games). They’ve also conceded first in every game, comeback or not. A gaping Declan Watters (who departed in the off-season) shaped hole in their defense looms, as does the season-long absence of captain and talisman Ualefi from their midfield. Head Coach Scott Mackenzie performed miracles with his threadbare squad last season; an even bigger effort will be required in 2026. Can Sarasota on Saturday be the prey that re-launches this wolfpack’s hunt?
Sarasota, meanwhile, (P:8 W:2 D:1 L:5 GF:7 GA:13 GD:-6 PTS:7) have struggles of their own, albeit more understandable ones, given this is their first season in pro soccer. They’ve only triumphed in two of their eight league games and were on the receiving end of a USL Cup defeat. That was away at Championship side Tampa Bay Rowdies, though, so probably isn’t reflective of their league form. Results have been mixed, but one mark of consistency is that they’ve lost all of their away games 2-0. Does a similar scoreline await them at CHI Memorial Stadium? The match kicks off at 3pm Eastern and fans can expect cloudy but dry conditions at about 75 degrees at kickoff. Streaming will be available on ESPN+.
The History:
In short, there isn’t one. Given this is Sarasota’s first ever season in the professional game, these two sides have never met. The teams will meet once more this season on Wednesday August 19 where they'll face off in Florida.
Report Cards and Lineups:
Red Wolves - It's probably important to note that the Red Wolves have only played four league matches so far in 2026, so their 15th place standing needs to be considered in this context. Nonetheless, they’ve only won one of those games, back on opening day, and have lost their last two, both two new teams. They’ve also lost both home matches, if we include the USL Cup loss to Corpus Christi (another new team). All this is to say that there’s a worrying form chart for this team, including against new teams, as they come to face another new team this weekend. The Red Wolves need to not concede first, as they’ve done in every single game so far. Head Coach Scott Mackenzie needs to find some formula for this talented squad to start getting results, especially at home, otherwise their games-in-hand will matter little. Lineup prediction: Jason Smith; Jordan Ayimbila, Eric Kinzner, Tobi Adewole, Harry Jolley, Joshua Ramos; Matt Acosta, Wynand Wessels; Omar Hernández, Pedro Hernández (C), Matt Bentley Club captain Ualefi is out for the season, but I am not aware of any other injury worries troubling Mackenzie this weekend.I don’t know what he’ll do in terms of setup, or if he’ll experiment more to break their losing run. One player I’d be keen to see given a chance is youngster Nathan Donoho, who made a later substitute appearance against Corpus Christi, his first for the Red Wolves. I’ve watched Donoho in the UPSL for the U23 side and think he’s a real exciting talent. I’d love to see him play alongside the two Hernández lads. Certainly, I’d expect to see him later in the campaign if the Red Wolves have nothing to play for, which is a distinct possibility at this outset. I’m going to go with talented shotstopper Jason Smith as my player to watch for CRW. He’s a great goalkeeper but has been let down by his defenders so far this season. He’ll be as keen as anyone, not just for a win, but for a hallowed clean sheet, something that has eluded the Red Wolves in 2026. Expect a big performance from him.
Sarasota - After three years in USL League Two, the Sarasota Paradise have begun life in League One and professional soccer in okay form. Many teams struggle their first season (in fact Boise are the only of the five new teams in the top eight) as they weather the storm of assembling a brand new squad from scratch and the rigours of pro soccer, business, and travel. They’ve given themselves the best possible start in Lakewood Ranch however, by bringing in some real talent. You suspect this talented team is still gelling as they’ve lost five in eight league games.
Lineup prediction: Alex Sutton; Anderson Rosa, Amadeus Sögaard, Declan Watters (C), Jørgen Pettersen; Aaron Walker, Andres Rodriguez; Jonathan Bolanos, Sander Røed, Maximus Tainio; Garrett McLaughlin
Finnish Head Coach Mika Elovaara has rotated a little, particularly up front as he looks to find a combination that can gather more consistent results. Toward the back, there’s much more certainty about who will play. Former Maryland Bobcats and Carolina Core man Alex Sutton has been a mainstay, as has Irish center-back Declan Watters, more on him later. Fans of lower league soccer will be familiar with the likes of Jonathan Bolanos and Garrett McLaughlin who both came with strong pedigree in the American third tier.
My Sarasota player to watch is undoubtedly Declan Watters. The big man (my very own county back in Ireland…we grew up not five miles from one another and played for the same local soccer team) was made the first captain of the Paradise in its professional era when he signed in the off-season. I chose Watters, not because of his background, but because of his talent and the impact of seeing him in an opposing team’s colors will have at CHI Memorial Stadium. Watters was selected in the USL League One Team of the Year for 2025 while at the Red Wolves, who he joined in late 2023. Last year he helped the side lead the league in Expected Goals Against (29.67xGA), recorded 180 clearances, and won 101 aerial duels at a 61.2% success rate while also recording 10 interceptions, 31 recoveries and two goals. Suffice to say, he was an integral part to the Red Wolves’ playing style and identity. That’s why his presence, now in a Sarasota Paradise shirt and wearing their armband, will be felt heavily at the Den this Saturday. How fans must miss him now.
Analysis and Predictions:
This is a hard one to call. Neither side looks exceptional. Sarasota are likely building while the Red Wolves are likely stalling. The latter have the advantage of home field play which you suspect has to count eventually in their season. I’ll go with a score draw, something like 1-1.
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