One Knox SC netted an 86th-minute equalizer against Portland Hearts of Pine for a 1-1 draw at Covenant Health Park on Aug. 19.
Forward Babacar Diene found the back of the net off a corner kick in the closing minutes, his second point-stealing effort in as many home games. Diene's goal allowed Knoxville to earn one point — the third consecutive match One Knox has scored a late goal to prevent a loss.
One Knox remains in fourth place in the USL League One with 38 points.
"I keep telling the guys that life is full of moments where you get an opportunity, and you have to take," head coach Ian Fuller said. "These are life lesson, and when you don't take it, it makes life really, really difficult."
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Portland Hearts of Pine broke open
the scoring in the 57th minute on a strike from midfield by forward Diego Gonzalez. One Knox turned the ball over, and goalkeeper Johan Garibay was out of as Gonzalez snuck it over his head from more than 35 yards away.
It was one of two shots on goal by Portland, compared to Knoxville's nine.
One Knox maintained possession for 69.6% of the game, generating 26 shots. Despite taking 20 of them within the box, just one managed to find the back of the net.
"I was really happy with overall the way we played," Fuller said. "Our intensity was there. It hurts right now."
One Knox man of the match, top moments: Wednesday, Aug. 19
Man of the match: Babacar Diene scored his fifth goal of the season, helping Knoxville gain a crucial home point in a tight USL League One table. "You ask him, and he says, 'I should have had three or four (goals),'" Fuller said.
- Two-timer denied: One Knox's Will Perkins got two looks at the goal in the 13th minute but converted neither. He snuck the first past a defender and had a clean look at the second off a rebound, but Portland goalkeeper Hunter Morse made both stops.
- Dive for it, Johan: One Knox goalkeeper Johan Garibay made a diving stop on Portland's Diego Gonzalez in first-half stoppage time. Garibay faced four shot attempts in stoppage time and stopped all of them to keep the game scoreless at the break.
- Wild play continues at Covenant Health Park: Gonzalez's midfield strike and Babacar Diene's late goal add to the complex nature of play during One Knox home games this season.
One Knox back at Covenant Health Park
One Knox will remain at home for another match against AC Boise on Saturday, Aug. 22. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. for Vols Night, which will feature a halftime shootout featuring former Vols athletes Erik Ainge, Ron Slay, Dustin Colquitt and AJ Johnson.
Trevor McGee covers the Knoxville Smokies and One Knox SC for Knox News. Email: trevor.mcgee@knoxnews.com; X: @TrevorMcGee12
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: One Knox steals a point late against Portland Hearts of Pine
