Chattanooga FC’s Unbeaten Preseason Continues at Home

Chattanooga FC scored a 1-0 win against the University of North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday in a pre-season friendly at a frigid Finley Stadium. This represented the fourth of CFC’s 5-game pre-season, after impressive wins against Atlanta United and Birmingham Legion and a tie with One Knoxville.

Credit Ray Soldano/Chattanooga FC, accessed on The Guardian

CFC lined up in a familiar 4-3-3 formation, anchored by new goalkeeper Eldin Jakupović, once of Hull City, LAFC and the Swiss national team. Center-back pairing of Farid Sar-Sar and Ethan Dudley were flanked by former UNC-player Milo Garvanian at left-back and Tate Robertson on the right. The back four were protected by Nick Mendonca playing the role of defensive midfielder, with the English pairing of Callum Watsonand Alex McGrath ahead of him. Center forward Keegan Ancelin was playing between Jesus Ibarra and new signing Ameziane Sid Mohand.

The UNC Tar Heels may not seem like the most difficult opposition for a pro team to play, but they made a game of it. While they may be students, it should be remembered that this side came 6^th in the ACC last season, making a play-off appearance in the NCAA Tournament. This is a strong soccer program, with a team containing real quality. Although today, they were without last season’s standout trio of Tate Johnson, Charlie Harper, and Riley Thomas who have since been drafted to Vancouver Whitecaps, Colorado Rapids, and Austin FC respectively.

CFC started brightly, volleying off a number of shots in the first ten minutes, with McGrath and Ancelin going close as they looked to test the UNC keeper. Ancelin in particular looked lively. Newly arrived from the University of West Florida, where he was led by former CFC head coach Bill Elliot, Ancelin caused problems for UNC all afternoon, even coming deep to collect the ball from Watson when needed. CFC head coach Chris Nugent has a host of forwards at his disposal this season, many of them new, and it’s unclear who he has in-mind as his first-choice striker, but on the basis of this afternoon, Ancelin is in with a good shout.

In midfield, Watson provided much creativity and linked well with CFC’s forwards in his traditional #8 role. Sid Mohand, signed from Columbus Crew 2, showed enough flashes of skill and creativity that will mark him out as a solid replacement for the departed Taylor Gray, even if he lacks Gray’s raw athleticism. The team was tied together by the central presence of captain McGrath, the Englishman coming into his 4th season at the club, played a familiar box-to-box role, linking defense and attack and peppering the opposition goal with long-range shots when he could.

But it was the unlikely Tate Robertson who broke the deadlock on the 33^rd minute. After Sid Mohand was fouled outside the box, he tapped the free kick, initiating a lovely team move involving McGrath, Garvanian and Watson, quick passing the ball into the box, where Robertson was there to finish it off.

The wing-back has returned to CFC after two years with Lexington in USL League One and today’s goal marked his first ever at Finley Stadium. Robertson demonstrated his experience throughout the game, both in defense where he was responsible for clearing up a number of UNC attacks, even coming central to do so, and going forward where he linked up well with Watson and Sid Mohand. With the experience and leadership of Anatolie Prepeliță having left for South Georgia Tormenta, a lot will rest on the shoulders of Robertson and vice-captain Sar-Sar to marshal this CFC defense. The 40 year-old Jakupović didn’t have too much to do, but did made a crucial kick-save from close range on 58 minutes, is another who will provide needed leadership among a team with an average age of 24.

Credit Chattanooga FC

There were run outs for a pair of trialists, Robert Screen, youngster Darwin Ortiz, and veteran Markus Naglestad, but Nugent opted not to make use of most of his bench. This may be an indication that today’s lineup is close to the one that will start against Inter Miami II on 8^th March. In fact, today’s squad only contained two changes from the one that drew with One Knoxville, those being the introduction of McGrath and Ibarra who will undoubtedly be regular starters this season.

Tougher tests lie ahead for Chattanooga as they start their season away to Miami, who finished 3^rd in MLS Next Pro East last season. The team could certainly have dispatched UNC with a higher scoreline, but the purpose of today’s run-out will have been to improve sharpness, fitness, and bring this team with many new faces, closer together. CFC wraps up its preseason this Friday when the club hosts UPSL side Tennessee Tempo in a closed-door match open exclusively to season ticket holders.

Box Score

Chattanooga FC - UNC Tar Heels

Finley Stadium | Chattanooga, TN

Final score:

CFC: 1-0 UNC

Scoring summary:

33': Tate Robertson - CFC

My Man of the Match:

Tate Robertson

Line-up (CFC)

Eldin Jakupović, Milo Garvanian, Farid Sar-Sar, Ethan Dudley(73’ Trialist), Tate Robertson, Nick Mendonca, Callum Watson, Alex McGrath (73’ Robert Screen), Jesus Ibarra (73’ Markus Naglestad), Ameziane Sid Mohand (66’ Trialist), Keegan Ancelin (86’ Darwin Ortiz).

Subs not used: Michael Barrueta, J.P. Philpot, Logan Brown, Steeve Louis Jean, Daniel Mangarov, Minjae Kwak.

Full match replay here: