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Five Things That Matter – Week 4

By USLLeagueOne.com Staff, 04/19/19, 11:17AM EDT

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Red Wolves need to open on shooting chances; Flamingos look to build on an exhibition victory


Chattanooga Red Wolves SC and forward Eamon Zayed have scored only three goals in their opening three games of the season, but have been creating Grade 'A' scoring chances. | Photo courtesy Jim Myers / Chattanooga Red Wolves SC

The shortest weekend of the USL League One season thus far will see just three games take place, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to talk about. Here’s a look at five key storylines as Week 4 kicks off.


 FINDING AN EDGE

Forward Madison FC completes its season-opening road trip on Friday night with a visit to Orlando City B in the inaugural meeting between the two sides. Both teams enter the contest without a win thus far in League One play and visiting Madison has yet to find the net in its opening two games after suffering a late 1-0 defeat to North Texas SC last Saturday night. If there is reason for optimism for the Flamingos, though, it comes from two places. First, Orlando has yet to record a clean sheet this season despite opening with three games on home turf. Second, Madison finally found its shooting boots on Tuesday night in a 2-0 exhibition victory against the University of Wisconsin. That could have provided a boost in confidence that the side can take its first points of the season before its official home opener next weekend.


 NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Saturday’s two-game slate sees Chattanooga Red Wolves SC host league leader South Georgia Tormenta FC at David Stanton Field and Greenville Triumph SC welcome the Richmond Kickers to Legacy Early College for the first time. While both Chattanooga and Greenville have yet to pick up a point on the road, the two sides come into the weekend with 100 percent records on their respective home turfs. Greenville has won back-to-back one-goal games against Lansing Ignite FC and Chattanooga, while the Red Wolves defeated Forward Madison FC in its inaugural home opener. Two more home wins this Saturday night would mean a new leader in the League One standings on Sunday morning.


 FIRE AT WILL

One of the more puzzling statistics to emerge from the opening three weeks of the season has been Chattanooga Red Wolves’ lack of scoring punch. Three goals in three games has left the side in the bottom half of the standings, and that’s a surprise because Head Coach Tim Hankinson’s side is producing its fair share of Grade ‘A’ opportunities. According to Opta, Chattanooga is tied for second in the league with seven “Big Chances Created”, while Steven Beattie leads players in that category on four, but the Red Wolves have only recorded 22 shots overall, less than half the total compiled by Greenville Triumph SC. Taking more chances to test opposing goalkeepers should be a must moving forward in Chattanooga.


 SETTING THE PACE


After back-to-back draws in the past two weeks, South Georgia Tormenta FC will try to get back in the win column against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC on Saturday night. | Photo courtesy South Georgia Tormenta FC

The League One season is more marathon than sprint, but that doesn’t mean it hurts to get out ahead of the pack. South Georgia Tormenta FC heads into Week 4 having already played four matches – one more than anyone else – and remained unbeaten after Lars Eckenrode’s stoppage-time header gave the side a 1-1 draw in Orlando last weekend. After getting back-to-back wins to open the season, though, Tormenta FC has come back into view of both Greenville and North Texas. Picking up three points on the road would ensure South Georgia can keep its distance from the chasing pack while maintaining a strong early pace ahead of its trip west next weekend.  


 ROAD TRIPPING

Richmond’s first road trip in League One didn’t go according to plan as the side played nearly an hour with 10 men in last weekend’s 3-1 defeat to Lansing Ignite FC. The Kickers will get a chance to put things right on Saturday night when they make the nearly 400-mile trek to Greenville, South Carolina to take on Triumph SC for the first time. The approximately six-hour drive will be Richmond’s shortest road trip of the season, as Greenville lies around 100 miles closer than both Chattanooga and Statesboro, Georgia. 


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