Corpus Christi FC beat Chattanooga Red Wolves on the road, 1-0
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (April 25, 2026) – In its Prinx Tires USL Cup debut, Corpus Christi FC (CCFC) downed Chattanooga Red Wolves SC 1-0. It’s the club’s first win its professional history.
Blake Bowen’s seventh minute strike was the difference for the Sharks (1-0-0)
A Fast Start
CCFC began the match on the attack, controlling the majority of possession in the first half. They didn’t get off many shots in the first half, but they made the best of their few chances. From the center of the pitch, Jackson Dietrick struck a hard low pass towards the left side of the box, right on the money for Bowen. He took a touch across the top of the box and fired a shot hitting the bottom of the crossbar and into the net. This was Bowen’s second goal in as many matches this week, his first in USL Cup play.
The Sharks kept the Red Wolves (0-1-0) off their game for most of the first quarter. Chattanooga didn’t have a single shot on frame in the first half and it wasn’t until the 27th minute they got into CCFC’s box with a quality chance.
Second Half Defense
The second half looked like a completely different game. CCFC played a defensive chess match, changing their formation. They faced a barrage of shots in the half, 16 total, but held strong together. Sam Roscoe led the backline with 11 clearances. Bowen had eight, Jack Keaney and Tomas Ritondale had five a piece.
“I think tonight we showed real fight for each other after a tough couple of weeks,” Roscoe said. “All through the week leading up to the game it was about us and tonight we showed the character we know we have in the group. We fought for each other to keep a clean sheet and a bit of brilliance from Jax and Blake wins us the game. Now it’s time to use the momentum from the win tonight to build upon it.”
In his first start of the season in all competitions, Mason McCready led with confidence, keeping the clean sheet. He made two saves on the night, but was very active in keeping the defense organized.
“It’s always good to get a clean sheet on your debut with the club, but it’s just as much on the rest of the guys you worked hard with for 90 minutes, against a good Chattanooga side,” McCready said. “Hopefully we can get momentum from this and start to pick up more points.”
CCFC rarely held possession in the half, but they mustered up a couple of counter attacks that could have sealed the match sooner. After subbing on in the 74th minute, Enock Kwakwa had an excellent shot from beyond the 18-yard box, forcing the Chattanooga keeper to make a save falling backwards.
In the 90th minute, Alexis Cerritos received a cross from Nacho Abeal. A miscommunication between defender and keeper saw Cerritos with a chance at the six-yard box, but his shot sailed high. Even with few chances in the final third, Corpus Christi had a threatening attack against the Red Wolves.
The victory gave Eamon Zayed his first win on the road at Chattanooga as a coach. Zayed was a fan favorite striker for the Red Wolves in their inaugural USL League One season in 2019.
CCFC’s next USL Cup match is at home Saturday May 16 vs FC Tulsa of USL Championship.
CCFC’s next league match is May 2 vs Spokane Velocity FC and is the club’s first pro home opener. The match will be played at Cabaniss Athletic Complex.
Notable:
-Corpus Christi FC wins their first ever pro match
-Corpus Christi FC wins their debut match in the USL Cup
-Blake Bowen scored his first goal in USL Cup play
-Jackson Dietrich earned his first assist of the year and first in USL Cup play
-CCFC out-possessed Chattanooga in the first half
-Mason McCready earns his first clean sheet of the year in his first start
Goals: Bowen (1)
Assists: Dietrich (1)
Yellow Cards: Medina (1), McCready (1), Keaney (1)
| CORPUS CHRISTI FC | Sarasota Paradise | |
| 6 | SHOTS | 19 |
| 2 | SHOTS ON TARGET | 2 |
| 2 | SAVES | 1 |
| 14 | FOULS | 14 |
| 1 | CORNERS WON | 8 |
| 1 | OFFSIDES | 2 |
| 3 | YELLOW CARDS | 3 |
| 0 | RED CARDS | 0 |
About Corpus Christi FC
CCFC was established in 2017 by Dr. Kingsley Okonkwo. The club previously played in USL League Two, the nation’s leading pre-professional league, and won their first Lone Star Division title in 2024. That same year, Corpus Christi was awarded a USL League One franchise and will kick off its first professional season in 2026. CCFC is building a new home at the Corpus Christi Multi-Sport Complex currently being constructed at 5102 Old Brownsville Road. Phase One of the $28.3 million complex was completed in summer 2025 and a 5,000-seat stadium, which will serve as home for all of the Sharks’ USL League One home games, is currently under construction.
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