Match Recap

USL LEAGUE ONE MATCHDAY 18	1ST HALF	2ND HALF	FINAL
ONE KNOXVILLE SC (10-5-3 | 33 PTS)	0	1	1
CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE (11-4-3 | 36 PTS)	1	2	3

CHARLOTTE, NC – It was a tough evening at American Legion Memorial Stadium for One Knoxville SC on Saturday. The visitors had some early chances to grab hold of the momentum, but in the end, fall 3-1 to the Charlotte Independence in a meeting of two teams fighting for the top of the USL League One standings.

“It came down to Charlotte taking their chances and landing the first punch,” said One Knox Assistant Coach James Thomas who manned the sidelines with Head Coach Ian Fuller serving a one-match red card suspension.

“It’s the fine margins of the game. In this league, teams go on runs of wins and losses all the time. This isn’t something that is uncommon for this league, but it’s uncommon for us and we’re going to do everything we can to shake it off.”

It marks the first time in 2026 that One Knoxville SC has fallen in three consecutive matches as the club remains on 33 points. Knoxville splits the season series with Charlotte, with both sides winning at home.

Forward Denis Krioutchenkov added to his club-leading goal tally, coming off the bench and finding the back of the net for his seventh USL1 goal and ninth across all competitions this season. Unfortunately it was not enough to combat a brace from Charlotte’s Souaibou Marou, along with an own goal, to take a commaning lead before Krioutchenkov grabbed one back in the 79th minute.

“It was kind of reminiscent of the Chattanooga game last week,” Thomas said. “Charlotte are a good team and they took their chances and we weren’t able to finish ours.”

One Knox finished the evening with four of its eight total shots on target, and finished with a 1.63 expected goals metric to Charlotte’s 1.62, despite the Independence putting seven of its 17 shots on target.

The away side began putting the pressure on in the 25th minute with Abel Caputo forcing a turnover at midfield and quickly playing it to Kyle Linhares, who then slipped it through to Babacar Diene. With just one defender between him and the goal, the One Knox forward placed one towards the far post from the left side of the box, but the left hand of Charlotte goalkeeper Matt Levy was able to push it wide.

10 minutes later, One Knox were again able to beat Charlotte’s high line with Mikkel Gøling playing Linhares in behind. With just Levy in his way and John Murphy Jr. running with him, Linhares opted to square a ball across to his teammate, but under-hit the pass, allowing Levy to cut it out.

The momentum shifted from there as Marou put Charlotte in front two minutes before halftime and then doubled the lead in just two minutes into the second half.

“It’s difficult to take two hits on the chin on either side of halftime,” Thomas explained. “We have great leadership in the group and I felt like the guys kept pushing and still believed that we were going to get a result.”

The Independence added to the advantage in the 76th minute when a pass across the face of goal deflected into the net off of a sliding Jordan Skelton. Krioutchenkov would get Knoxville on the board three minutes later, combining with Diene before beating Levy with a left-footed strike.

“Unfortunately we weren’t able to bring ourselves back tonight,” added Thomas. “But credit to the guys for pushing hard and never giving up, because that’s what defined our title-winning charge last year and that’s what we’ll need to have success in this final stretch.”

NEXT UP
After a tough two-match roadtrip, One Knoxville SC will look to get back to its winning ways with a return to Covenant Health Park next weekend. The squad is set to welcome the Sarasota Paradise on August 8 for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff (tickets). In support of the the Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital, 10% of all ticket sales for the match will be donated to the hospital.

USL LEAGUE ONE MATCHDAY 17	1ST HALF	2ND HALF	FINAL
ONE KNOXVILLE SC (10-4-3 | 33 PTS)	0	0	0
CHATTANOOGA RED WOLVES SC (9-5-1 | 28 PTS)	0	1	1

EAST RIDGE, Tenn. – The chances were there for One Knoxville SC for much of the evening. The goals, however, unfortunately were not and because of that, the club must turn the page after suffering a USL League One loss away from home for the first time this season. A second half goal against the run of play was enough in the end for Chattanooga Red Wolves SC as One Knox succumbed to a 1-0 defeat on Saturday night.

“Really disappointing,” said Head Coach Ian Fuller. “We huffed and puffed, but couldn’t find the goal that we were looking for.”

One Knox departs CHI Memorial Stadium still on 33 points in the league standings. The defeat halts the club’s USL1 road unbeaten streak at seven matches.

It was a particularly bitter pill to swallow too for the squad after it could not find the back of the net despite creating a multitude of dangerous offensive opportunities. Knoxville finished the match with a 20-6 advantage, with 12 of those shots coming inside of the box and six on target.

The squad also held 68% of possession with 79 final third entries, to just 50 from Chattanooga.

But it was a header from Red Wolves defender Josh Ramos off a corner in the 74th minute that ended up being the only goal of the evening.

“We left ourselves open and gave chances away,” Fuller explained. “Which you can’t do, especially on set pieces against a team that is really dangerous in those spots.”

After serving a one-match red card suspension, forward Denis Krioutchenkov returned to the lineup and narrowly missed on adding to his team-lead in goals. He found himself in on goal in the 21st minute, following a turnover at midfield and a pass into the box from Babacar Diene, but the shot inside the box went over the crossbar.

Krioutchenkov was back in front of goal with the ball seven minutes later courtesy of Diene once again, who made a run down the right side of the box before cutting the ball back. Krioutchenkov’s one time seemed destined for the back of the net, but was deflected away on a desperation slide from Red Wolves defender Tobi Adewole.

Diene had an effort of his own in the 33rd minute as One Knox’s high press forced an errant pass at the top of the box. The Senegalese forward took a couple of touches before ripping a right-footed effort that beat the dive of Red Wolves goalkeeper Jason Smith, but not the post as it bounced back into play before the ball was cleared to safety.

NEXT UP
Having suffered a pair of recent setbacks, One Knox will look to rebound next weekend as it stays on the road to face the Charlotte Independence in a match of two teams tied on 33 points. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte on August 1. Knoxville returns to Covenant Health Park the following weekend, August 8, against the Sarasota Paradise (tickets).

USL LEAGUE ONE MATCHDAY 16	1ST HALF	2ND HALF	FINAL
AV ALTA FC (7-4-7 | 28 PTS)	1	2	3
ONE KNOXVILLE SC (10-3-3 | 33 PTS)	1	1	2

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A match that began well enough for One Knoxville SC ended up not going the way that the squad had hoped. A 3-2 loss to AV Alta FC at Covenant Health Park sees Knoxville’s five-match winning streak come to an end with the club suffering its first defeat in over two months.

“They were better in the finer moments than we were,” said One Knox Head Coach Ian Fuller. “I think it was a fairly even match that could’ve gone either way. Against a team that’s very good in possession, you have to be really sharp with the ball and we weren’t.”

Despite the setback, One Knox remains in first place in the USL League One standings due to other results throughout the league on Saturday.

Midfielder Teddy Baker put the hosts in good early position with 22nd minute strike. But that lead held for only four minutes as AV Alta answered back with a goal against the run of play. The visitors then took hold of the match in the second half with a pair of goals before Nico Rosamilia provided some hope of a last-ditch comeback with an 89th minute effort.

Both teams finished the match with an identical five shots on target via 15 total shots. Knoxville had the slight advantage in expected goals, 1.84 to 0.95, with nine shots inside the box.

But the club was unable to capitalize on its scoring opportunities with leading-scorer Denis Krioutchenkov unavailable due to a red card suspension.

“There were moments where we weren’t good enough with the ball and it crept in with the rest,” Fuller explained. “We lacked an ability to get pressure on the ball in the right areas, but when we did, we were successful.”

The new-look attacking front started things off well enough midway through the first half with Mikkel Gøling, Kyle Linhares and John Murphy Jr. combining with some quick one-touch passing that was capped off by a free Baker at the top of the box perfectly placing a shot into the low right corner, freezing AV goalkeeper Denzel Smith in the process.

It was the English midfielder’s fourth goal across all competitions and his fourth straight USL1 match with a goal contribution.

AV Alta answered back in the 26nd minute with forward Cesar Behena running behind the Knoxville backline and getting on the end. He took a touch to settle before chipping a shot into the net with Knoxville goalkeeper Johan Garibay forced to come off his line.

“This is happened to us a few times,” Fuller said of allowing a goal right after scoring one. “We tend to not continue to do what got us the goal and drop off. That’s usually when you need to ramp it up again, it’s a good lesson for us.”

Tied at the break, the visitors grabbed the lead in the 67th minute on a Jerry Desdunes free kick from the left corner of the box that deflected off the One Knox wall before slotting just inside the far post.

AV doubled the advantage eight minutes later with Adam Aoumaich finishing off a pass from his brother, Ilias Aoumaich.

“We made some good adjustments going into the second half and had our chances to take the lead,” said Fuller. “But then we give up a goal off a set piece deflection which is disappointing. And then once the third goes in, it’s an uphill battle.”

Throwing numbers forward as time was winding down, One Knoxville finally converted another chance right before second half stoppage time as Real Gill crossed in a ball across the face of goal and Rosamilia slashing inside to head it home from close range.

The goal marked Rosamilia’s first in USL1 this season, but his second in the span of the week, along with his July 11 header against Corpus Christi FC in the Prinx Tires USL Cup. Unfortunately, that would be the last gasp for One Knox in the end.

“I’m pleased with the fight, but we have to get better,” Fuller noted. “When you lose, those things stick out like a sore thumb and we’ll fix it.”

NEXT UP
Coming off the rare feeling of a loss, One Knoxville SC now must flush the result and regroup as it returns to action next weekend on the road against in-state rival Chattanooga Red Wolves SC. The club then completes the two-match roadtrip against a Charlotte Independence squad that is neck-and-neck with it at the top of the USL1 table. Knoxville returns to Covenant Health Park on August 8 against the Sarasota Paradise (tickets).

USL LEAGUE ONE MATCHDAY 15	1ST HALF	2ND HALF	FINAL
FORT WAYNE FC (6-3-6 | 26 PTS)	0	1	1
ONE KNOXVILLE SC (10-2-3 | 33 PTS)	0	2	2

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A gritty match called for an equally gritty, yet elegant, match-winning strike.

In his 58th appearance in a One Knoxville SC kit, Abel Caputo picked the perfect time to notch his first goal with the club. His rocket volley from outside the box deep in the second half secured a 2-1 victory over Fort Wayne FC on Wednesday night, putting his club back in first place in USL League One in the process.

“That’s who we are,” a relieved Caputo said after his 81st minute winner. “We can do it the pretty way or the ugly way. That shows our quality in that we can dig games out of nowhere. It was like that last year and that identity has stayed.”

Sitting on 33 points, One Knox moves its unbeaten streak to eight matches with the win and is now a winner of five straight in USL1. The win also halts a string of 11 consecutive matches without a league loss for Fort Wayne FC who leaves Covenant Health Park with its first defeat since March 28.

“I’m proud of the way the guys fought,” One Knoxville SC Head Coach Ian Fuller said. “It was not an easy match against a really difficult opponent.”

Joining Caputo on the scoresheet for the home side was defender Scott McLeod in a rare start. The pair of goals coming from unlikely players was much needed after One Knox leading scorer Denis Krioutchenkov was shown a second yellow card a minute into first half stoppage time.

The sending off made for a wide open second half as both teams played a man down with Fort Wayne’s Javier Armas shown a straight red for a retaliation on Kriotuchenkov’s first yellow card less than a minute into the match.

“We didn’t expect that and it’s something you’re not training for, so it throws everything until a loop for a little bit,” Fuller said of the early red card. “It’s natural to slow things down and let the game come to you when you’re man up, but the reality is that you have to make the game come to you. I thought we did a little bit better job in the second half, unfortunately we were at even numbers at that point.”

Following the topsy-turvy first 45 minutes, McLeod wasted little time in the second half to open the scoring, out jumping a scrum in the box to head home a Teddy Baker corner in the 47th minute. It was the Jamaican defender’s first goal of the season.

“I was really pleased for Scott,” Fuller noted. “He hasn’t played a lot for us, but he stepped in and did very well. So pleased that we finally scored on a set piece. We put the goalkeeper under a lot of pressure and got a very good goal.”

After Fort Wayne FC’s Kabiru Gafar equalized in the 73rd minute, the corner would once again be kind to Knoxville just eight minutes later.

From the same side of the field as McLeod’s earlier goal, Baker whipped a ball in towards the back post that was headed away by Fort Wayne. However, the ball fell towards Caputo at the top of the box and the midfielder met it with his right foot before it could hit the ground.

“I had a chance earlier from that spot and wasn’t able to do anything with,” Caputo recalled. “So before that one, I told myself that if it comes to me again, I’m just shooting.”

The driven volley took a glance off of the back of Fort Wayne’s Taig Healy and dipped into goal over the flailing right hand of goalkeeper Bernd Schipmann.

“I said before that, that every ball that comes out of the box in that situation that you play it back to the kicker, but then Abel goes and does that,” laughed Fuller. “I’m surprised that’s his first goal for us, because he’s hit the bar, he’s hit the post so many times. He’s got such good technique and it’s a big one and we’ll all remember this one.”

In addition to it being Caputo’s first time finding the back of the net for One Knox, it was also just his second goal in his seventh season as a professional, having last scored former USL1 side Fort Lauderdale CF back in 2021, but it was more than worth the wait.

“All I could think was ‘finally’,” an exasperated Caputo said. “I don’t usually get that many chances, but I was glad I was able to get that one and help the team win. That’s all I’m here to do.”

NEXT UP
One Knoxville SC will look to keep its place atop the league standings and maintain the momentum at home as it looks to cap off a six-point week when it welcomes AV Alta FC on Saturday. Kickoff from Covenant Health Park is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (tickets).

2026 PRINX TIRES USL CUP | GROUP 3	1ST HALF	2ND HALF	FINAL
ONE KNOXVILLE SC (0W-1L-3D; 6PTS)	0	1	1(4)
CORPUS CHRISTI FC (1W-2L-1D; 4PTS)	0	1	1(2)

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – For a second time in as many matches at Cabaniss Athletic Complex, it took a last-ditch effort for One Knoxville SC to even things up against Corpus Christi FC. Only this time, in a Prinx Tires USL Cup tilt, a draw was not an option as One Knox finished the job in penalty kicks with a 1(4)-1(2) victory on Saturday night.

“You got to love the fight of the group,” said Head Coach Ian Fuller. “I was disappointed with how we played for much of the match, but we were brilliant in the end. I just wish we could finish off some of these matches before going to penalties.

“We had guys that haven’t played much and they took their chances well, we just didn’t sustain much and that’s a good lesson learned.”

With the two points from the shootout victory, Knoxville concludes the USL Cup with a third place finish in Group 3 on six points.

Nico Rosamilia marked his return from injury in impressive fashion by not only burying the winning penalty kick, but also providing the equalizer in the fourth minute of second half stoppage time to keep the match alive.

“Every game is super important, and we’re professionals so we’re always fighting for something,” said Rosamilia, who made just his fifth appearance of 2026 and first since June 10 after dealing with multiple injuries.

“Even if the game may not mean anything for the cup, it still means something for us and that was our mentality. We’re not happy with the way we played, but we’re happy that we didn’t give up. It’s a multitude of emotions for myself with how this year has gone, but now I’m ready for more.”

Having fallen behind in the 78th minute on a goal from Corpus Christi’s Tomas Pondeca, it appeared One Knoxville’s unbeaten streak in road matches was going to come to an end. However, with just a minute to spare at the end of the match, Rosamilia was able to find some space in the box on a ball sent in from Steven Cordova.

The midfielder headed it down to the far corner of the goal, beating the outstretched right arm of goalkeeper Mason McCready.

“It was a really good, driven ball from Steven,” Fuller recalled. “It was really difficult to defend because of its pace and Nico put himself in a great spot to get onto the end of it.”

It was the first goal of any match in 2026 for last year’s USL League One Finals Most Valuable Player.

“It was a great feeling to get on the scoresheet this year,” Rosamilia said. “Steven played a nice ball and I just took the chance. I was able to get my head on it and redirect towards goal and luckily it found the back of the net.”

Rosamilia’s heroics weren’t done just yet however as he capped off a perfect four-for-four outing from the spot in penalty kicks, with Denis Krioutchenkov, Dani Fernandez and Kyle Linhares also converting. The visitors had the upper hand from the onset with Corpus Christi’s Blake Bowen sailing the match’s first penalty well over the bar.

One Knox goalkeeper Jonathan Burke then made a save with a dive to his left on an attempt from Pondeca, allowing for Rosamilia to slam the door shut for the squad’s fifth penalty kick win in as many tries this year between the USL Cup and the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

“We all have the confidence to go out there and make the shot or make the save,” said Rosamilia of One Knox’s success in penalties. “I’ve played soccer my whole life and I want those types of moments. Burkie made it easier for me with the save, no real nerves, because I want that pressure.”

With a congested schedule ahead, Fuller opted for a heavily rotated lineup to open Saturday’s match. That included forward Eli Cook who, at 17 years and 38 days old, became the youngest player to ever start for One Knoxville SC. Having joined the club this season on an Academy contract, Cook played 64 minutes and acquitted himself well.

He even had an early chance with a run in behind the Corpus Christi backline in the seventh minute, but his shot went just wide.

“We don’t just give this to anyone, he’s earned this,” Fuller said of Cook. “This was a step up from what he’s used to, but he’s been training very well with us the last few months. It was a pleasure to give him this opportunity and he took it well.”

NEXT UP
One Knoxville SC returns to USL1 play and comes home following a successful three-match roadtrip. The squad welcomes Fort Wayne FC on Wednesday, July 15 (tickets) and then AV Alta FC on Saturday, July 18 (tickets) as it looks to regain pole position in the league standings.

“Feels like it has been ages,” Fuller said of being back at Covenant Health Park. “It’s going to be a big, big week for us and we’re looking to pick up maximum points and it starts against a very good team in Fort Wayne and then we know what problems AV can give us. We’ve got to get back to Knoxville and get ready.”

USL LEAGUE ONE MATCHDAY 14	1ST HALF	2ND HALF	FINAL
ONE KNOXVILLE SC (9-2-3 | 30 PTS)	1	1	2
AC BOISE (6-6-3 | 21 PTS)	1	0	1

GARDEN CITY, Idaho. – It may not have been the performance that Head Coach Ian Fuller envisioned, but he will take the three points on the road all the same. One Knoxville SC’s unblemished road record is alive and well following a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over AC Boise on Saturday.

“The group showed great character,” Fuller said. “The suffered for almost the entire match and then we had some moments of brilliance. This is not the way we want to play and not the way we drew it up, but three points away from home at a very difficult place to play, we’re thrilled with that part.”

With the win, One Knox moves its unbeaten streak up to five matches across all competitions and is now 5-0-2 in USL League One away matches as the squad holds its second place position in the standings with 30 points. For the second consecutive match, Finn McRobb and Teddy Baker put their names on the scoresheet as Knoxville achieved its first USL1 win in which it conceded first, while Boise suffered its first loss in a match that it opened the scoring.

The victory came in a way that One Knox is not accustomed to, as the home side controlled the flow of the match with over 60% of the possession and had a 15-7 shot advantage. But despite absorbing the pressure for much of the evening, Knoxville showed its toughness and was opportunistic with the little chances it had.

“We had to defend on all different parts of the pitch,” said Fuller. “We struggled with their shape against the ball and road our luck a lot, but that sometimes happens away from home. Individually, I don’t know if I can pick out one to say they played great, but collectively, we were fantastic in how we stuck together and had each other’s backs.”

The difference came in 81st minute on a rare occasion where One Knox found itself with the ball in the final third. Beginning with a throw-in on the left side of the pitch, Knoxville was able to string together 16 total passes to matriculate the ball into the box.

The final ball came from Babacar Diene as the forward laid it off for Baker who unleashed a low, driven strike with his right-footed, slotting it into the left corner of the net to give his side its first lead of the night.

“The kid is class,” Fuller said of Baker. “We need to get him on the ball more, but our midfielders had to do a lot of defensive work, so there wasn’t many opportunities. But the ball popped up well for him there and he didn’t have to have much backswing to drive right through it.”

The goal continues a great run of form from Baker who tallied a goal and an assist his last time out – a 4-1 win over the Spokane Velocity.

His late winner was set up thanks to McRobb’s second goal of the season, coming right before halftime in the 44th minute. The Scottish defender was quick to pounce with a volley into the open net following a failed punch from Boise goalkeeper Jonathan Kliewer, who was challenged in the air by One Knox’s Mikke Gøling.

“We know he has that in him,” Fuller said of McRobb as a scoring threat. “He can strike the ball. He didn’t need much of an angle, he just put his foot through it. I’m thrilled for him and the build up to that goal is everything we thought would happen.”

McRobb’s drew things even after AC Boise took the lead 22 minutes earlier on a goal from Nick Moon. But the One Knox defense stood tall following that earlier blemish, holding Boise to just two more shots on target despite the overwhelming possession.

Goalkeeper Johan Garibay came up with a pair of clutch saves, first in the 37th minute with a diving stop to his left on an attempt from Thomas Amang and then to his right in the 67th minute to deny a Jake Crull header.

“We struggled to hold onto the ball and get up the field, so we had to defend deep,” explained Fuller. “It was something that we worked on a little, but we thought that we could keep the ball more. It didn’t work out that way and we pivoted really well. I have to give our backline credit and our three midfielders in front of them. They all worked their socks off.”

Another positive for One Knoxville was the return of Real Gill. The Trinidad and Tobago forward entered the match in the 72nd minute to mark his first appearance since suffering an injury against FC Tulsa in a Prinx Tires USL Cup match on April 25.

NEXT UP
Looking to keep the momentum going, One Knox returns to action on July 11 for a USL Cup match at Corpus Christi FC. It will be the third and final meeting with Corpus Christi in 2026, having played to a pair of draws in USL1 action. After concluding the road trip, the squad will be back home at Covenant Health Park for a pair of matches against Fort Wayne FC on July 15 (tickets) and AV Alta FC on July 18 (tickets).

USL LEAGUE ONE MATCHDAY 13	1ST HALF	2ND HALF	FINAL
ONE KNOXVILLE SC (8-2-3 | 27 PTS)	2	2	4
SPOKANE VELOCITY (6-4-2 | 20 PTS)	0	0	0

SPOKANE, Wash. – It was a match that, coming in, had all of the storylines to make for a potential classic. However, One Knoxville SC took all of the air out of those narratives in emphatic fashion, turning it into a lopsided affair with a 4-0 road victory over the Spokane Velocity in a rematch of the 2025 USL League One finals.

“We were fantastic in every phase of the game,” Head Coach Ian Fuller said of his players. “Their attitude was unbelievable, the physicality was amazing, they played incredibly with the ball, were organized without the ball and did everything correct against an opponent we know very well.”

With Saturday’s win, One Knox is moves its unbeaten streak in away matches to six, ending Spokane’s perfect record at One Spokane Stadium in the process. Knoxville also remains unbeaten against Spokane in the two sides’ six overall meetings, dating back to 2024. The four-goal difference is the largest margin of victory against any side in club history.

Most importantly, however, the victory sees One Knox move into second place in the USL1 standings with 27 points and just one point behind Union Omaha with two matches in hand.

“The togetherness is the main thing,” said Baker when asked what worked on Saturday. “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy playing this team in their place. We’ve put some good results together and knew how good we’ve been away from home. We knew we could put together a performance like this and all the boys performed amazing tonight.”

Baker set the tone for the visitors in the first half with a four-minute stretch in the first half that began with an assist to Finn McRobb, followed by a goal of his own. Kyle Linhares and Mikkel Gøling then put an exclamation point on the proceedings with goals in the second half, picking apart a Spokane side that had only allowed 12 goals all season.

One Knox, meanwhile, lived up to its defensive billing as Johan Garibay notched his league-best sixth clean sheet of the 2026 season. But the goalkeeper was only called on to make one save as the One Knox defense was staunch in keeping its USL1-best 11 goals allowed mark untouched.

“To pick out one individual tonight would be crazy because every single player gave their all tonight,” Fuller explained. “We knew if we stayed defensively sound and protected the box that we were going to have plenty of opportunities. We countered very well, took our chances and could’ve had even more.”

Nearly jumping out to a lead four minutes into the match with Denis Krioutchenkov hitting the inside of the post, the opening strike would occur 29 minutes later with Baker whipping in a free kick from just outside the left corner of the box. McRobb was there to meet it with his head for his first professional goal since 2024.

Baker then took matters into his hands in the 37th minute from a similar position as his free kick. Instead of crossing one in for another assist, he curled one into the top far corner to double the lead.

“Sometimes when you hit it, it just feels good,” Baker recalled of his second goal across all competitions in 2026. “From the moment I hit it, I knew it was right and then when it goes in, it’s just such an amazing feeling.”

Knoxville grabbed its third not long after coming out of the halftime break, with Krioutchenkov taking advantage of Spokane’s backline pressed high by picking out a run from Kyle Linhares, who showed composure in running at goalkeeper Sean Lewis before picking out the far post. It capped off a solid night for the forward, who also provided the final pass on Baker’s goal.

Mikkel Gøling then removed all doubt in which team would be taking home three points on the evening with his second goal in as many matches as he also finished a one-on-one opportunity with Lewis after a pass from Babacar Diene sprung him free.

“It’s who these guys are, they’re selfless,” Fuller noted of both of his strikers recording assists. “I’ve got to give all of our staff credit as well. This is a collective and everyone has fully bought in and on nights like this, it gets rewarded, everyone was focused and determined.”

NEXT UP
Having won three straight matches in league play, One Knoxville SC will look to hold onto that momentum during some time off before its next match. The squad returns to action on July 2 when it heads back on the road to face AC Boise.

“We wish we could play right now,” Fuller laughed after Saturday’s win. “But this break is going to really good for them. For them to come out with this performance heading into the break was really class.”

The squad will then conclude play in the Prinx Tires USL Cup at Corpus Christi FC on July 11 before returning home to Covenant Health Park for a pair of matches against Fort Wayne FC on July 15 (tickets) and AV Alta FC on July 18 (tickets).

USL LEAGUE ONE MATCHDAY 12	1ST HALF	2ND HALF	FINAL
NEW YORK COSMOS (2-8-1 | 7 PTS)	0	1	1
ONE KNOXVILLE SC (7-2-3 | 24 PTS)	2	1	3

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – For first time at Covenant Health Park this season, One Knoxville SC’s attack broke the two-goal seal. And while the goals may not have come in the most conventional way, they still counted all the same as the home side capped off a positive home stand with a 3-1 win over the New York Cosmos on Saturday night.

“We fancy ourselves for sure to get three points if we score three goals at home,” said Head Coach Ian Fuller. “The goals were a little crazy the way they came, but we’ll take them anyway we can.”

The win pushed Knoxville’s unbeaten streak to four matches across all competitions as the squad now sits at 24 points in USL League One play.

Debuting its brand new Delaney Kits on the pitch in front of the home crowd, One Knox showed off its grit to go along with its style. Whether it was Babacar Diene and Mikkel Gøling being the first to loose balls in the box, or Denis Krioutchenkov pressuring the opposing goalkeeper on a clearance, One Knox was rewarded for its suffocating intensity on the evening.

“That’s what we need to do to get three points and we have to keep doing that,” explained Gøling. “Sometimes you score the hard goals and sometimes you score the easy goals and tonight we had some great goals from (close range), which is always nice when those come. It doesn’t matter how you score.”

Gøling put an exclamation point on the evening in the 73rd minute by being the first to the loose ball after Teddy Baker blistered a shot from outside the box that New York goalkeeper Javier Garcia was not able to hold on to. The Danish midfielder converted the easy tap-in to notch his second goal of 2026, but his first in the 2026 USL1 campaign.

“It’s been a long wait,” Gøling laughed afterwards. “I’ve been wanting to score and have had a couple of chances this season. Finally being able to put it into the back of the net feels so good.”

The goal came just six minutes after Gøling entered the match, but his second half cameo was more than productive, completing all eight of his passes to go along with his goal.

And it was a needed response after the Cosmos crept back into things coming out of the halftime break, as Davide Galazzini cut the lead to 21 with a 51st goal for the visitors.

“We came out at halftime, saying the next goal could change the match,” Fuller recalled. “To our guys credit, they did respond very well after that. There was that calmness mixed with nastiness that we pried ourselves on after that goal. Before that, we made some mistakes.”

The first goal of the night came in the 19th minute when One Knox’s John Murphy Jr. was taken down in the box from behind by New York defender William Noecker, drawing a penalty. Babacar Diene’s low driving effort from the spot was initially denied by Garcia, but the Knoxville forward was quick to the ball to place it home for a 1-0 lead. It was his fifth goal in 2026, but his first since May 2 in a 3-0 win at FC Naples.

Diene’s partner up front, Krioutchenkov, doubled the Knoxville advantage in the 35th minute by grabbing a goal, seemingly, out of nowhere.

With New York recycling possession by playing it out the back, the ball went to Garcia in his own box, but as the goalkeeper was about to send it long, Krioutchenkov stepped in front of the ball and deflected it into the goal.

“You can say it was fortuitous,” Fuller said of the sequence. “But Denis got his reward for taking that chance. I’m really pleased that he got that because he put in the hard work tonight.

“What that means is that you are putting pressure in the right areas. We want to pressure teams in tough decision making positions all over the pitch.”

While odd in how they came, the three goals felt deserved for a One Knox side that outshot its opponents 22-13 (8-3 on goal) and had 60 final third entries to New York’s 43. The home side also showed its bite on defense, winning 13 of its 16 total tackles.

Murphy Jr. put his footprint on the match despite not finding the back of the net, leading the way with five total chances created. The One Knox center back pairing of Jordan Skelton and Finn McRobb was solid in the back once again with both completing over 89% of their passes.

NEXT UP
After three wins at home over the last couple of weeks, One Knox now gets set to embark on a three-match roadtrip, beginning on June 20 when it takes its longest road trip of the season to face a Spokane Velocity squad that is right behind in the USL1 standings.

“You just got to win your games,” Gøling said. “We just go into every game with that same mentality whether we’re playing on the road or at home.”

Kickoff in Washington is set for 9:00 p.m. ET. Knoxville returns to Covenant Health Park on Wednesday, July 15 when it welcomes Fort Wayne FC (tickets).

2026 PRINX TIRES USL CUP | GROUP 3	1ST HALF	2ND HALF	FINAL
CHATTANOOGA RED WOLVES SC (0W-1L-2D; 2PTS)	0	1	1(5)
ONE KNOXVILLE SC (0W-1L-2D; 4PTS)	0	1	1(4)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Penalty kicks are beginning to become old hat for One Knoxville SC in 2026. For the fourth time this year, the club found itself needing to decide a match from the spot, and for the fourth time, it came through in the end.

All it took was one miss from the other side as Abel Caputo’s conversion capped off a perfect five-for-five round to give One Knox SC the 1(5)-1(4) victory over in-state rivals Chattanooga Red Wolves SC in the Prinx Tires USL Cup.

“We did see it out in the end,” One Knoxville SC Head Coach Ian Fuller said. “It’s a really difficult team to play against, they are a dangerous team that is really good in the box. We didn’t expect to go into pens but our guys were really calm in front of the net.”

Garnering the two points through the shootout win, One Knoxville pushes its total to four in Group 3 play of the USL Cup. But while the home side knew it needed a win in regulation to still have a chance to win the group, it can take solace in the fact that it showed its resilience in front of its fans on Wednesday evening at Covenant Health Park.

It was a particularly special night for Knoxville goalkeeper Nic Lemen who made his professional debut and joined his teammates Johan Garibay and Jonathan Burke in securing a penalty kick victory this year between the sticks.

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet, they told me Monday (that I’d be starting) and I was pretty nervous that day, but the nerves calmed as the game got closer,” said Lemen who posted two saves and tallied four clearances against the Red Wolves. “I wish I could’ve done a little bit better, but I thought the boys in front of me played really well and fought hard to make it easy on me.”

A shot off the post from Pedro Hernandez on Chattanooga’s fifth attempt from the spot was ultimately the difference.

“A little bit of relief,” Lemen recalled of the moment. “I had no doubt we were going to win after that.”

Lemen got some help from One Knox forward Denis Krioutchenkov who subbed on in the 70th minute and just needed two touches to get on the scoresheet in the 71st minute.

“I don’t think so,” Krioutchenkov said when asked if he’d ever scored a goal that fast. “That moment felt incredible. Ian believed in me in that moment to come on. I was waiting for my time and he puts me on and then that happens.”

Playing a quick restart following a foul on the other end, Babacar Diene played a ball out wide to a wide open Jaheim Brown, who found an open Krioutchenkov in the box. The rookie striker tapped the ball into space before blistering a shot in the lower left corner for his first goal in USL Cup play and his club-best eighth goal across all competitions.

“I told him to go in and score,” Fuller laughed. “Denis is a goal scorer and did his job really well. You give him any space in front of goal and he’s going to bury it.”

The clean sheet appeared to be on as One Knox successfully absorbed pressure from its opponent deep into the match, despite playing a man down after Nico Rosamilia picked up a knock after the club used all of its substitutions.

But the away side finally drew even just as second half stoppage time was about to begin. A strike outside the box from Matt Acosta forced Lemen to push it wide, but it unfortunately went right into the path of Matt Bentley who followed it home to even the score and send the match to penalties.

“A frustrating last minute,” Lemen explained. “But (going into the shootout), I knew all the boys had my back.”

Lemen wasn’t the only new face in One Knox’s heavily rotated lineup on Wednesday. Defender Scott McLeod got the start and went 79 minutes in his first match back from injury, marking his third appearance in 2026 and his first since April 4. It was a welcomed return for forward Eli Conway, also returning from injury, having last seen the pitch on April 29.

Midfielder Steven Cordova also worked his way into the starting eleven for his first action with the club since April 18.

“I was pleased with a lot of the guys to get some minutes on their legs,” Fuller explained. “They played well. They were a bit rusty in certain situations, but that’s always a given when they haven’t played a lot of minutes.”

NEXT UP
With just one match left in group play of the USL Cup, One Knoxville returns to USL League One action with a quick turnaround this Saturday against the New York Cosmos for its first ever meeting against the expansion side. Kickoff for the special 865 Night match from Covenant Health Park is set for 7:00 p.m. ET (tickets). Festivities include a live art installation, courtesy of the Knoxville Museum of Art, for all fans to partake in throughout the night. The club will also debut its new third kit, the Delaney Kit, on the pitch after revealing it on Tuesday.