#1 Captain and goalkeeper Edward Delgado records nine saves as Naples creates 20 shots in hard-fought road performance.
Naples, FL — September 14, 2026 — FC Naples earned a hard-fought point on the road Friday night, battling One Knoxville SC to a scoreless draw at Covenant Health Park. Facing a Knoxville side sitting fourth in the league table, Naples turned in a defensively disciplined performance and finished the night with more shots (20 to 19), despite seeing just 37.4% of the ball.
Captain and goalkeeper #1 Edward “Lalo” Delgado was the driving force behind the clean sheet, finishing the match with nine saves to preserve the shutout. Delgado repeatedly turned away Knoxville’s leading scorer, #9 Denis Krioutchenkov, denying him from close range and getting a strong right hand on a low, right-footed attempt aimed for the bottom corner.
Naples’ best look at goal came from forward #45 Nicolas Likulia, whose left-footed effort narrowly missed the target. Likulia led all players with five shots on the night. Defensive midfielder #21 Marc Torrellas controlled the tempo through the middle, leading Naples with 30 completed passes and four tackles won, while #14 Kevin O’Connor created a team-high four scoring chances and completed 10 crosses into the box before making way in the 66th minute.
The introduction of #10 Andrés Ferrín off the bench in the 66th minute added an immediate attacking spark, as the winger registered two shots on target in his time on the field. #5 Luca Mastrantonio also tested Knoxville’s goalkeeper with a shot on frame, and #3 Julian Cisneros was steady in the middle third before being substituted in the 71st minute.
The result adds to a competitive all-time series between the two clubs, with One Knoxville having held a 3-0-1 edge entering Friday’s match. Naples’ point on the road comes against a Knoxville side that entered the match on a four-match unbeaten run in league play.
Next Match — Friday, September 19 vs. Fort Wayne FC (7:30 PM ET)
FC Naples stays on the road next Friday, September 19, to face Fort Wayne FC at 7:30 PM ET. The two clubs opened the 2026 USL League One season against one another on March 7, when FC Naples earned a 2-0 victory at Paradise Coast Sports Complex behind goals from #11 Chris Garcia and #18 Dominick Bachstein. With the regular season entering its decisive final weeks, Naples will look to build on Friday’s clean sheet and turn its attacking opportunities into three points in Fort Wayne.
Fans are encouraged to watch the match live on ESPN+. Broadcast information and the complete schedule are available at www.fcnaples.com/schedule.
Three Straight Home Matches Await FC Naples
Following the two-game road stretch, FC Naples returns to Paradise Coast Sports Complex for three consecutive home matches.
· Sat., Sept. 26 – FC Naples vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC – Kickoff at 7:00 pm
· Sat., Oct. 3 – FC Naples vs. the New York Cosmos – Kickoff at 7:00 pm
· Wed., Oct. 7 – FC Naples vs. Richmond Kickers – Kickoff at 7:00 pm
A special “Own the East Bundle” package offers discounted pricing for tickets and merchandise, as well as a special chance to win an FC Naples Golazo Prize. Learn more at www.fcnaples.com/tickets.
About FC Naples
FC Naples is Southwest Florida’s first professional soccer team, based at the state-of-the-art Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples, Florida. The club’s 2026 roster represents 13 nationalities, and the team is coming off a historic inaugural 2025 season that saw FC Naples finish fourth in the USL League One regular-season standings and become the first expansion team in league history to host and win a playoff match. FC Naples’ mission is to create a world-class family experience and forge a title-contending team to be the pride of Southwest Florida. Learn more at www.FCNaples.com.