RANDALL’S ISLAND, NY - Icahn Stadium, and its predecessor Downing Stadium, nestled on the confluence of the East and Harlem rivers in New York, is no stranger to history. This was the site of Jesse Owen’s Olympic qualification in 1936 and of Usain Bolt’s then world record in the 100m run with a time of 9.72 seconds in 2010. Champion teams in rugby union, cricket, and Gaelic football have passed through. In soccer it has seen Real Madrid, Benfica, Napoli, England, and the United States knock a ball about for 90 minutes. It hosted Pelé for one of his seasons with New York Cosmos and has had Carlos Alberto, Eusébio, Ferenc Puskás, Bobby Moore, and Bobby Charlton as visitors. You’ll rarely get to see an MLS game, let alone an MLS Next Pro game, played in the presence of such sporting antiquity.
This was the scene of Chattanooga FC’s triumphant route of New York City FC II on Sunday. Despite trailing New York in every statistical department, they persevered thanks to some heroic goalkeeping, sensible tactical flexibility, and another Tate Robertson special. For anyone else, these exploits will hardly join those above as hallowed moments on Randall’s Island, but for the small but loud band of CFC fans, they’ll live long in the memory.
New York had 70% possession and outgunned Chattanooga in shots (22 to 6), shots on goal (9-2), big chances (1-0), xG (1.46-1.34), pass accuracy (547/88%-197/74%), corners (16-3), and successful dribbles (7/54%-1/50%), yet came away with nothing. Showing their eagerness to bounce back from their recent defeat to New England Revolution II, New York knew that a victory could lift them as high as seventh in the Eastern Conference.
And so it was Matt Pilkington’s side that pushed for an early opener. Just three minutes in, Máximo Carrizo forced Eldin Jakupović into action with a superb curling effort. This would be the first of eight saves by the Swiss international. Piero Elias and Sebastiano Musu also went close, with the former’s shot blocked and Musu’s attempt saved. Early pressure mounted and Jakupović was called upon again when Drew Baiera placed a strike from the right side of the area. Juan Ponce and Prince Amponsah had chances while Carrizo and Peter Molinari drew more saves from CFC’s veteran goalkeeper as half-time approached.
It total, the Young Pigeons had fired off 16 (8) shots compared to CFC’s zero in the opening half. The visitors were in the game thanks to their goalkeeper. Not only is Eldin Jakupović the most experienced goalkeeper in the league, but he’s also easily the best too. He leads the league in clean sheets (10) and saves (116). He was imperious again on Sunday, frustrating New York’s talented young offense.
Chattanooga Head Coach Chris Nugent formulated some tactical changes at half-time and brought on DC United-loanee Gavin Turner. This set the tone for a second half in which CFC limited NYC’s chances, the home side produced just six shots and zero on target in the second half and began to produce chances of their own.
Despite New York controlling so much of the game, it was Chattanooga who broke the deadlock in the 75th minute. Substitute Turner won a free kick after being fouled by Peter Molinari. It was the 13th foul suffered by Turner in only 13 games for CFC, demonstrating again his value as an attacking threat, winning a number of free kicks. Up stepped right-back Tate Robertson, arguably Chattanooga’s player of the season in 2025. He smashed a free kick from the edge of the box past Mac Learned to give his side the lead. It was his ninth goal of the season, CFC’s top goalscorer in league play.
The small band of Chattanooga fans were in raptures. In spite of the late Sunday evening kick-off and at a stadium that provided no concessions at all for fans, they were a constant source of encouragement for CFC and good natured discouragement for the home side.
While New York continued to create chances, with Elias heading over from close range in the 82nd minute, they remained unable to find the equalizer and fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat. They finished the evening in 11th place and a playoff spot looks all but impossible now.
For Chattanooga, the result was their third away win in-a-row, a first for the club since joining MLS NEXT Pro. They also extended their unbeaten streak to six, equaling their best run since joining the league. They remain in a strong spot in the Eastern Conference and will aim to secure a home playoff match this weekend at home to Atlanta United 2.
Box Score
New York City FC II v Chattanooga FC
MLS Next Pro
Venue: Icahn Stadium | New York, NY
Final Score: New York 0-1 Chattanooga
Referee: Cristian Campo Hernandez
Scoring summary:
75’: T. Robertson (CFC)
Discipline:
86’: P. Elias (NYC) - foul, yellow card
88’: G. Turner (CFC) - foul, yellow card
Man of the Match: Eldin Jakupović (CFC) -
Line-ups:
New York City FC II (4-3-3): Mac Learned (C); Christopher Tiao (Jack Loura 69’), Prince Amponsah (Collin McCamy 88’), Max Murray, Drew Baiera; Piero Elias (Lucas De Pinho 88’), Peter Molinari, Máximo Carrizo; Camilo Ponce, Julien Lacher (Leo Guarino 78’), Sebastiano Musu
Subs not used: Dylan McDermott, Brennan Klein, Adonis Campos, Pierce Infuso
Head Coach: Matt Pilkington
Chattanooga FC (4-3-3): Eldin Jakupović; Milo Garvanian, Farid Sar-Sar (C), Nathan Koehler (Logan Brown 69’), Tate Robertson; Luke Husakiwsky, Nick Mendonca (Gavin Turner 45’), Callum Watson (Steeve Louis Jean 77’); Daniel Mangarov (Keegan Ancelin 60’), Anthony García, Yuval Cohen (Xavier Rimpel 77’)
Substitutes not used: Michael Barrueta, Darwin Ortiz
Head Coach: Chris Nugent
Next Games
• October 5th, 13:00 (ET): Philadelphia Union II v New York City FC II, Subaru Park, Chester, PA (MLS Next Pro)
• October 5th, 13:00 (ET): Chattanooga FC v Atlanta United 2, Finley Stadium, Chattanooga, TN (MLS Next Pro)
Great job, as usual. Minor error--I think you meant to say how many saves Yakupovic had this season instead of clean sheets twice.
Man that was fun. I like winning.