Lexington Sporting Club defeated Chattanooga Red Wolves SC 4-3 on the road on Saturday, remaining undefeated in the USL Jägermeister Cup and earning the club’s first road win of the season.
Entering the competition on the back of a 2-2 draw with CV Fuego FC that turned into a 4-1 penalty kick victory, Lexington SC had secured at least two points in all USL Jagermeister Cup competitions, defeating Forward Madison FC 1-0 to start the in-season cup.
Hitting the road for the first time in the competition, Lexington got into early trouble with a slip up on defense allowing the home Red Wolves to quickly take the lead in the eighth minute.
The visitors pushed on regardless, with Ates Diouf scoring his second goal of the season off an assist from Jayden Onen on a fast-break, but disaster struck for the Boys in Green as the home side was able to respond with a quick equalizer to enter the break leading 2-1.
Back out for the second 45 with victory on their minds, the Greens pushed forward and broke through again in the 55th minute when mid-season signing Alexis Cerritos slid one past Chattanooga goalkeeper TJ Bush off an assist by Christian Lue Young.
Unfortunately for Lexington, the home side would have an even faster response this time, scoring less than two minutes later to regain advantage.
Trailing by a goal in the 90th minute, Lexington was given seven minutes of stoppage time to work with and was determined to make the most of it after gaining the numbers advantage when Chattanooga defense Omar Hernandez was sent off with a straight red card for a jersey pull as last defender.
Ultimately it would be a substitute, Nico Brown, who delivered the first miracle on the pitch as he intercepted a goal kick for a one-on-one opportunity and made the most of it, sliding the ball into the net to tie the match.
Not satisfied with going to penalties, Lexington found its second miracle in the last minute of play as Diouf delivered a ball into the box for former Louisville City FC ace Cameron Lancaster, who got just enough of it to send it past Bush and clinch the game winner for the visiting Greens.
Lexington SC led with possession in the contest, holding the ball 59.1% of the time while also winning in expected goals 1.90-1.46.
Next up for the Boys in Green, they’ll hit the road once again on June 1 for a rematch against Forward Madison FC, this time in USL League One play. That game is set to kick off at 6:00 p.m. ET from Breese Stevens Field.
About Lexington Sporting Club
Lexington Sporting Club is a U.S. Soccer professional soccer club competing in USL League One (U.S. Soccer third division men’s professional soccer), and in USL Super League (women’s professional soccer launching in 2024). The two professional teams are the pinnacle of the soccer ecosystem in Lexington that features more than 1,400 players within its youth and academy systems. Lexington SC in the process of building the club’s formal stadium, performance center and training fields.