CHATTANOOGA, TN — The wins are stacking up for Spokane Velocity FC, who shut out Chattanooga on the road to win their second match in a row and rise to fifth place in League One standings.
Velocity FC’s Head Coach Leigh Veidman reflected on the midweek win against Chattanooga.
“This is one of the toughest places in the league to get a result and a clean sheet. Not only that, but doing it on such a long road trip makes it even more important so I’m really proud of the players and staff,” said Veidman.
The Lads had to withstand an early push by Chattanooga, who earned two corner kicks in the first 12 minutes of the match but did not create chances from it. Spokane’s defense against set pieces was crucial against a Red Wolves side that entered Wednesday with the second most goals off of set pieces (15).
Velocity FC had a couple of chances in first half stoppage time, with both Derek Waldeck and Anuar Peláez getting shots on target from the left side of the box that were saved by Chattanooga goalkeeper Jason Smith, ending the first half scoreless.
Neco Brett subbed on for Spokane to start the second half and immediately made an impact by scoring in the 51st minute to give the Lads a 1-0 lead. Brett snuck past the backline and received a perfect pass from Luis Gil to score his fourth goal in league play this season.
Brett talked about how he can contribute to the offense whether he starts or comes off the bench.
“I just try to make an impact wherever I can on the field, whenever my number is called,” said Brett. Melissa Diaz melissa@uslspokane.com
The Red Wolves got close to an equalizer multiple times but were unable to convert. One of their better chances came in the 79th minute when Matthew Bentley sent a header inside the box just over the goal’s crossbar.
Velocity FC goalkeeper Sean Lewis notched the 30th clean sheet of his League One career on Wednesday, becoming the fifth player in league history to reach the milestone. Lewis, who is the reigning Goalkeeper of the Year in L1, spoke about the achievement.
“I’m a big believer in trusting your process. If you continue to make improvements and focus on what you can control, results will follow,” said Lewis. “That growth mentality has been a big help in reaching a level of consistency that has helped me throughout my career.”
Coach Veidman spoke about what is next following Wednesday’s win.
“All of our focus is getting home safe, recovering as best we can, and playing again on Saturday versus Portland in front of our fans, who we will really need to drive the boys through the game,” said Veidman.
Velocity FC now has 46 points and are just two points behind One Knoxville SC for fourth place. With two matches in hand over the top four sides, Spokane’s pursuit at hosting a playoff match has grown stronger.
The Lads will look for their third straight win this Saturday when they host Portland Heart of Pines, with kickoff set for 6:00 PM PT. Don’t miss out on the chance to support the Lads as they continue their fight for a top four spot in League One standings and a home playoff match! Get your tickets today at USLSpokane.com – Velocity FC Single Match Tickets!
