Home matches for One Knoxville SC have produced an unusual number of moments you simply couldn't script, from a record-setting red card to a deflection sending a routine goal kick into the net.
One season after going undefeated at Covenant Health Park
, the defending USL League One champions have a 6-3-1 home record in 2026 and have capitalized on the oddities, winning five of their last six matches while defending the Old City fortress.As fans prepare to witness the unexpected again Aug. 19 when One Knox faces Portland Hearts of Pine, take a look back at some of the stadium's most memorable moments this season.
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The accidental header: May 29 vs. Greenville Triumph SC
One Knox defender Will Perkins found the net against Greenville
Triumph but never got credit for the goal. That's because Triumph defender Patrick Seagrist got his head on the ball and deflected it into his own net, helping Knoxville win the match 2-0.
We've been scoring some weird goals lately. Will using some Jedi mindtricks on this one.#KNXvGVL #TOOK #BelieveInKnoxville pic.twitter.com/PhThpFZIjt
— One Knoxville Sporting Club (@OneKnoxSC) May 29, 2026
"It hurts not to get credit for it, but a goal is a goal," Perkins said after the match. "You put the ball in dangerous areas, you get good things that happen. It was an unlucky deflection, but I mean, I'll take it. Who cares? We won 2-0."
Goal kick gone wrong: June 13 vs. New York Cosmos
Denis Krioutchenkov leads One Knox with seven goals this season, and none have been crazier than how he found the back of the net against the New York Cosmos on June 13.
Attacking a goalkeeper kick in the 36th minute, Krioutchenkov got his foot in front of the clearing attempt, causing the ball to take a unique trickle into the goal and giving Knoxville a 2-0 lead. One Knox won the match 3-1, scoring all three goals with second-chance opportunities.
Denis has scored a lot of goals this year, none are crazier than this one.#KNXvNYC #TOOK #BelieveInKnoxville pic.twitter.com/6EiqRJG6tE
— One Knoxville Sporting Club (@OneKnoxSC) June 13, 2026
"Denis got his reward for taking that chance," head coach Ian Fuller said after the match. "If he doesn't take that chance, we're still at 1-1, possibly ending 1-1. So, I'm pleased he got that because he put in the hard work tonight."
A red card record: July 15 vs. Fort Wayne FC
After a month away from its home turf, One Knox didn't take a break from the irregularities. In fact, the club wasted as little time as possible.
Three seconds into the match, Krioutchenkov bumped Fort Wayne midfielder Javier Armas, who fell to the ground and extended his leg to clip the One Knox player. Armas received a red card for the incident, while Krioutchenkov received a yellow card.
After an injury break, the referees presented the cards at the 64-second mark, which was early enough to break the record for the quickest red card in USL League One history. The previous record was set May 17, 2025, when FC Naples goalkeeper Joel Serrano received a red card at 6 minutes, 26 seconds.
Right place, right time: July 15 vs. Fort Wayne FC
In the same match against Fort Wayne, One Knox got a lucky break (or was it skill?) with the game-winning goal.
Defender Abel Caputo − who stepped up after Krioutchenkov picked up his second yellow card late in the first half − netted his first USL regular season goal off a deflected volley kick in the 80th minute. The goal gave One Knox a 2-1 win and put the team back atop the USL League One standings.
No words for this one for Abe's first of the year.#KNXvFW #TOOK #BelieveInKnoxville pic.twitter.com/QBIih4oxeG
— One Knoxville Sporting Club (@OneKnoxSC) July 16, 2026
"When you put yourself in the right positions," Caputo said, "sometimes luck is in your favor."
Stoppage-time stunner: Aug. 8 vs. Sarasota Paradise
AV Alta FC handed One Knox its first home loss of the summer on July 18, and Sarasota threatened to make it two straight in Knoxville's next home appearance Aug. 8 before attacker Babacar Diene delivered in stoppage time.
The attacker found the net in the 94th minute, breaking a three-match losing streak for One Knox.
Knoxville has since fallen to fourth place. The team is seven points back from first place after going 1-3-1 in its last five game heading into Wednesday's match against Portland.
Trevor McGee covers the Knoxville Smokies and One Knox SC for Knox News. Email: trevor.mcgee@knoxnews.com; X: @TrevorMcGee12
Match week at Covenant Health Park
One Knox SC (11-5-4) has two matches this week at Covenant Health Park.
- 7 p.m. Aug. 19: Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday for One Knox SC vs. Portland Hearts of Pine. Knoxville enters the match in fourth place with 37 points, while Portland (5-9-6) sits in 12th place with 21 points.
- 7:30 p.m. Aug. 22: Gates open at 6 p.m. Saturday for One Knox SC. vs. AC Boise (10-7-4). Boise is in fifth place, just behind One Knox, with 34 points.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: One Knox SC home matches have produced wild, record-setting moments in 2026
