FC Naples, Chattanooga Red Wolves battle to 2-2 draw
NAPLES, Fla. – In front of an energized home crowd, FC Naples battled the Chattanooga Red Wolves to a 2-2 draw Saturday at Paradise Coast Sports Complex. Forward #11 Justin Weiss delivered a breakout performance, scoring his first two professional goals in the first half, assisted by #9 Karsen Henderlong and #10 Jayden Onen, and earning FC Naples a crucial point in the USL League One standings.
FC Naples took early control of the match, with Weiss finishing a perfectly placed ball from Henderlong in the 33rd minute. Just eight minutes later, Onen picked out Weiss again for the second goal of the night. Chattanooga responded swiftly after both with goals at the 36th and 43rd, equalizing the score before halftime.
Weiss shared his thoughts on his first professional start and first two career goals, calling it a night he’ll never forget.
“I’m super grateful to have done it in my first start, I mean, a dream come true,” he said. “That’s what I’ve been looking forward to my whole life, so I’m pretty happy it happened tonight.”
Head Coach Matt Poland applauded the team’s overall performance, stating, “Offensively, some great actions. It’s just about cleaning up some of the defending in the box. They didn’t present us with any challenges we couldn’t handle-it was more our own mistakes that led to the goals. So on one hand, it’s good that it’s something we can control and fix. On the other hand, it’s on us to make sure we do just that.”
Saturday’s match was the only home match in June, and the fan turnout reflected the growing excitement around professional soccer in Southwest Florida.
Upcoming matches:
N FC Naples returns to Paradise Coast Sports Complex Friday, July 4, to battle the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the highly anticipated Jägermeister Cup match. This epic rivalry last met in a thrilling showdown that went all the way to the 9th round of penalty kicks, making this contest one of the most intense in recent memory. The upcoming match will not only mark FC Naples’ return home after their U.S. Open Cup campaign but also serve as a celebration of community, competition and country.
n Following the Independence Day match, FC Naples will remain on home turf for a back-to-back home game on Saturday, July 12, when they face Westchester SC.
Tickets are available online at www.fcnaples.com/tickets, and supporters are encouraged to arrive early to experience the full match-day atmosphere and secure the best seats.
Learn more about the team at www.FCNaples.com.