Chattanooga sees out Atlanta challenge
Resumed game ends 1-0 in Marietta, Jakupović heroics
After heavy rains had postponed their game on 24 September, Atlanta United 2 and Chattanooga FC resumed play to finalize the penultimate match of their regular seasons.
Thunderous, heavy showers last Wednesday had led referee Abdou Ndiaye to postpone proceedings. The game was stopped on the 71st minute with Chattanooga 1-0 up, despite Atlanta dominance. You can read my report of that segment of this fixture here.
Today, as it was last week, it was all Atlanta. From the 72nd minute start they laid siege to Chattanooga’s goal. After outfiring their visitors in this fixture’s first segment in shots (15-7), shots on target (6-1), and big chances (1-0) they repeated the trick with 13 shots today, six on goal, and three big chances. Chattanooga didn’t increase their tally across any of those stats. One new trick Atlanta couldn’t learn however was to score past CFC’s goalkeeper.
Jakupović, who turned 41 today, made saves from Gabriel Wesseh (twice), Javier Armas (twice), Patrick Weah, and Ryan Carmichael. This was just in this afternoon’s 21 minutes of play by the way, not the tie overall. He was helped by his defense who blocked as though their lives depended on it. Darwin Ortiz and Farid Sar-Sar got a pair of blocks in to frustrate Rodrigo Neri. Toto Majub hit the crossbar with his effort off a Wesseh corner on 92 minutes. Meanwhile Carmichael and Moises Tablante fired wide. Apart from a lull between the 79th and 87th minutes there was barely a minute when Atlanta didn’t attempt a shot.
Come the 95th minute, Keegan Ancelin cleverly intercept a Majub ball that allowed Gavin Turner and Ortiz to advance and waste some time on the ball in the Atlanta half. The final whistle came and Chattanooga were unbeaten in six games and had leapfrogged Huntsville City into fourth place. Job done!
One again, the day belonged to CFC’s veteran goalkeeper. Once again, Swiss international Eldin Jakupović proved he’s not only the most experienced goalkeeper in the league, but he’s also easily the best too. He continues to lead the league in clean sheets (10) and saves (122). His save from Carmichael toward the end today, was exceptional.
These two teams meet again on Decision Day this Sunday at 1pm in Chattanooga.
Atlanta’s season isn’t finished, but their task to achieve playoff soccer is a tough one. They need to win on Sunday at Finley Stadium and will need at least two of Carolina Core, Toronto, and Cincinnati to lose to have any chance. All three of those sides are also away on Sunday afternoon.
For CFC, the task is simple. Win on Sunday and they’ll seal home playoff spot. They would even finish in third if New England failed to win in Miami. With Huntsville breathing down their necks, there’s no room for complacency. I’ve said many times that few, if any sides, stand to benefit more from home advantage in this league than Chattanooga. And that is exactly what a top four finish gives them.
Box Score*
*continuation from 24 September 2025
2 October 2025
Atlanta United 2 v Chattanooga FC
MLS Next Pro
Venue: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground | Marietta, GA
Final Score: Atlanta 0-1 Chattanooga (Game resumed on 71 minutes)
Referee: Abdou Ndiaye
Scoring summary:
11’: D. Mangarov (CFC)
Discipline:
29’: K. Ancelin (CFC) - dissent, yellow card
39’: T. Robertson (CFC) - foul, yellow card
45’: D. Mangarov (CFC) - foul, yellow card
45+2’: M. Garvanian (CFC) - dissent, yellow card
45+5’: C. Sanchez (ATL) - foul, yellow card
90+1’: R. Wynne (ATL) - foul, yellow card
Man of the Match: Eldin Jakupović (CFC) - for now. To be confirmed when the match is finalized.
Line-ups:
Atlanta United 2 (3-4-3): Jonathan Ransom; Salvatore Mazzaferro, Toto Majub, Ronan Wynne; Dominik Chong-Qui (Moises Tablante 64’), David Sibrian (Adyn Torres 64’), Cooper Sanchez (Javier Armas 45’), Ryan Carmichael; Santiago Pita (Rodrigo Neri 68’), Gabriel Wesseh, Patrick Weah
Substitutes not used: Ashton Gordon, James Donaldson, Arif Kovač, Ilan Ettinger, Ignacio Suarez
Head Coach: Jose Silva Caparros
Chattanooga FC (4-3-3): Eldin Jakupović; Milo Garvanian (Steeve Louis Jean 70’), Farid Sar-Sar (C), Logan Brown, Tate Robertson; Luke Husakiwsky (Nathan Koehler 70’), Gavin Turner, Callum Watson (Nick Mendonca 45’); Daniel Mangarov, Colin Thomas (Keegan Ancelin 19’), Yuval Cohen (Darwin Ortiz 57’)
Substitutes not used: Michael Barrueta, Ethan Dudley, Xavier Rimpel, Anthony García
Head Coach: Chris Nugent
Next Game
• October 5th, 13:00 (ET): Chattanooga FC v Atlanta United 2, Finley Stadium, Chattanooga, TN (MLS Next Pro)