One Knoxville SC came from behind a scoreless first half to beat Sarasota Paradise 2–1 on the road Saturday in USL League One action. Braudílio Rodrigues and Babacar Diene struck within four minutes of each other in the second half to seal the result, with Jonathan Bolanos pulling one back late for the hosts.

The first half produced no goals but plenty of tension. Rodrigues picked up a yellow card in the 34th minute, and Sarasota's Declan Watters followed two minutes later. Jørgen Pettersen was also cautioned right before halftime, meaning Paradise headed into the break with two players already on bookings.

One Knoxville broke the deadlock in the 55th minute when Rodrigues — the same man cautioned earlier — finished from a Mikkel Gøling delivery to make it 1–0. The visitors doubled their advantage just four minutes later as Diene converted off a Rodrigues assist, the Brazilian turning provider moments after finding the net himself.

Sarasota's discipline continued to fray. Anderson Rosa was booked in the 61st minute, the third Paradise player cautioned. Bolanos gave the home side a lifeline in the 74th minute, cutting the deficit to one, but the hosts could not find an equalizer despite pushing forward in the final stretch. Mika Elovaara picked up yet another yellow for Sarasota in the 81st minute — a fourth booking of the night for Paradise — as frustration mounted.

One Knoxville saw the game out comfortably from there, collecting three valuable points on the road to open the early-season campaign on a positive note.