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Semifinals Report: Red Wolves stun top-seeded Kickers to advance to Final

By USLLeagueOne.com Staff, 10/29/22, 8:30PM EDT

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Chattanooga become lowest-seeded side to ever advance to League One Final

RICHMOND, Va. – Playing down a man for 51 minutes, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC stunned the top-seeded Richmond Kickers with an 85th-minute Rafa Mentzingen winner to advance to its first-ever USL League One Final with a 1-0 victory. Chattanooga's Semifinal win serves as the largest upset in League One postseason history as the Red Wolves become the lowest-seeded side to ever reach the League One Final. Additionally, the Richmond Kickers become the first regular-season champions to fail to win the league title.

The Kickers dominated possession for the majority of the match and had a number of chances early in the match as they rode the momentum of a record-breaking regular season and 5,526-person full City Stadium. The match went on to favor the hosts even more as the Red Wolves were reduced to 10 men in the 39th minute due to a studs-up tackle by David Texeira. 

Against all odds, Chattanooga went on to limit Richmond's record-breaking offense to just two shots on target after the hosts went up a man. The dagger came from League One veteran Rafa Mentzingen who - just a week after his 101st-minute winner against reigning champion Union Omaha in the Quarterfinals - converted a spectacular goal in the 86th minute to seal Chattanooga's improbable late winner.

USLLeagueOne.com Player of the Match

Rafa Mentzingen (CHA) – Only seeing action in the final 33 minutes of the match, Mentzingen made the most of his time on the pitch by scoring Chattanooga's incredible match-winner and winning 80% of his tackles and duels.

Scoring Summary
CHA – Mentzingen (Villalobos) 86' - WATCH

Full Box Score


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