Jordan Jones’ 16th minute penalty as enough as FC Tucson pushed its unbeaten run to four matches with a 1-0 win over Chattanooga Red Wolves SC Friday night at Kino Sports Complex. 

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Jones opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 16th minute. The penalty came after Devyn Jambga played a clever pass over the top of the Red Wolves defense to spring Jones free near the endline. Jones cut the ball back towards the penalty area and Guillermo Delgado was tripped up as he approached the pass to strike it on frame. Jones stepped up and buried the penalty to score his fourth goal of the month and seventh of the season.  

Erik Virgen nearly doubled Tucson’s lead in the 33rd minute after picking up the ball in his attacking half. Virgen took a touch towards goal before striking a blistering shot from 25 yards from goal, but the ball hit the crossbar and stayed out. 

Jones looked to have scored his second goal of the night in the 64th minute, getting on the end of Jambga’s low cross after Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu played him in behind Chattanooga’s back four, but the goal was whistled for offside. 

FCT didn’t need Jones’ second to secure all three points as Phillip Ejimadu earned his fourth clean sheet of the season in goal without having to make a save. Tucson’s defense was strong, but Virgen and Wheeler-Omiunu ran the show from midfield for the majority of the night, ensuring that Chattanooga’s clean looks on goal were limited. 

With the win, Tucson remains in seventh place, but have put themselves firmly in the playoff conversation with 31 points. FCT is just a point back of fourth-place Forward Madison FC. Tucson will look to continue to close the gap on the playoff positions next week at home against Lansing Ignite FC. FCT finishes the season with six of its final seven matches at Kino Sports Complex, where the side is unbeaten in seven outings. 

Friday’s defeat pushes Chattanooga’s winless run to three matches and leaves the Red Wolves in sixth place with 32 points and at least one more match played than the majority of the teams around them in the table. Chattanooga will remain on the road and head to Canada next week to take on Toronto FC II.