Chattanooga snaps winless run
Wins 'Battle of the Independents'
Having last tasted victory on 24 May when they defeated New England 1-0 at home, the Chattanooga Football Club had gone 84 days and 10 games without a win. In that time, they’d lost five times (three at home) and drawn five (winning three PK shootouts). Last night they finally snapped that streak, coming away from North Carolina with a 1-0 win and all three precious points.
While the result may not look hugely impressive on its own, and the game could easily have gone either way, this needs to be looked at in context. In soccer, as in all sports, there are unquantifiable elements that can make or break seasons. Things like confidence, morale, luck, and momentum can catapult teams to success, if they can be mined. For CFC the hot summer months of June and July didn’t bring them much luck, nor could they find ways to build momentum. A two-month winless streak has to sap the morale of even the most hardened professional. Make no mistake, coming away from Truist Point with a win is a huge deal for this team right now.
They came into the game, again shorn of Danish hitman Peter Plougmand, as well as club captain Alex McGrath, but otherwise with a full squad compliment. That was until reliable defender Nathan Koehler pulled out just before the game to be replaced by Logan Brown.
The Core, meanwhile, had relegated top-scorer Glory Nzingo to the bench in-place of new signing, and former CFC fan favorite, Jesus Ibarra. While adored by fans in the Scenic City, those from Chattanooga would be praying their former talisman had a bad day. You could almost see the headline before you, ‘Chattanooga lose again after Ibarra goal’. For the Core and Ibarra, it was not to be.
Not for want to trying, they were arguably the better side in the game. Donovan Ricketts’ men owned 57% possession, had more shots (15 to 10), created more big chances (3-2), and completed more accurate passes (394/85% to 281/79%) than their visitors. These aren’t huge margins though and they were small enough for CFC to stay in the game, through some exceptional goalkeeping by 40-year-old shotstopper Eldin Jakupović and exploit some poor form by Carolina center-back Ibrahim Covi.
Covi was the villain of last night’s proceedings, just as we was when these two sides met back in April. At this same venue, four months ago, CFC took home all three points after a comprehensive 4-1 win. The Frenchman played a central role, scoring a farcical own goal before getting sent off for a sloppy foul. Last night, Covi was dismissed again, after hauling substitute Anthony García to the ground in the box, earning himself a second yellow card and his opponents a penalty.
García was one of two CFC men making his debut, after being signed on Friday. Midfielder Luke Husakiwsky was another sub, brought on at half-time to put some metal into Chattanooga’s spine.
That first half saw Ibarra hit the post with an attempted cross early on before Jakupović made a crucial, close range, left-footed save from Anthony Sumo Jr. Core captain Jacob Evans and Jathan Juarez also got off shots that were easily handled by Jakupović. At the other end, Colin Thomas went close for Chattanooga, but the visitors’ best chance came in the 18th minute when a scorching Tate Robertson attempt from long-range was tipped over the bar by Core keeper Alex Sutton.
A Daniel Chica header was gathered by Jakupović early in the second-half, off of a Carolina free-kick. The Swiss international goalie was having an imperious game. He made five saves tonight to keep his side in the tie. While some looked routine, his lengthy experience at the highest levels of the sport often sees him in the right place at the right time, ensuring there’s rarely any errors in his positioning or his play. He made 10 recoveries and was often part of Chattanooga’s counter-attack, rifling long passes up the field to pressure the opposition.
Substitute Joshua Rodriguez came painfully close to winning it for Carolina when he was unmarked in the box, right in front of goal, but couldn’t meet Juarez’s low-cross. Only three minutes later, Covi bundled García down in the opposite box and Chattanooga had their chance.
Tate Robertson, arguably CFC’s best player this season and certainly their most dependable, slammed home the resulting penalty. It was his seventh league goal on the season and his third successful conversion from three penalty attempts. Chattanooga had finally found their luck and their win.
Talking points
Chattanooga’s Chris Nugent will breathe a sigh of relief after that win. Even if you can’t fault his tactics for the side’s recent winless streak, as Head Coach, he bears ultimate responsibility and will have taken a lot of heat recently. Not only does he seem to know his best XI, something he has managed to craft despite poor form, but his new signings and substitutes made a difference last night with Anthony García drawing the foul in his debut that gave CFC its winning penalty.
Seasons can turn on moments and chances. Last night, CFC finally had some good luck for the first time in a while and were able to capture it. Fine performances from squad leaders like Jakupović, Robertson, and Farid Sar-Sar will provide some encouragement that may well facilitate a morale boost that they can take into their next game. That will take place at home against Huntsville, who are above Chattanooga in the table, but over whom they enjoy a 3-1-1 record. Last night wasn’t always pretty, but a win-is-a-win, and it could help rebuild their season.
Jesus Ibarra earned his first start for Carolina in his home debut after impressing last time out against Huntsville, where he scored his first goal for the club. The 27-year-old played a majority of the match last night against his former club, registering an 82% accurate pass percentage and winning four duels throughout the entire game. Ibarra looked positive in attack, with three passes into the final third for the Foxes. It will be interesting to see where he fits into Ricketts’ long-term plans and how the Jamaican tactician finds a way to accommodate both Ibarra and Nzingo in the same team.
4,477 fans turned out to Truist Point last night, a sellout. Not only is this wonderful for Carolina Core and the community of High Point, it’s also good news for soccer in America, but especially for the league. MLS Next Pro comes in for some flack, and rightly so, for being a reserve league containing teams that in most cases have little or no fans and tiny support in stadiums. The Core, as well as the more established Chattanooga FC, are proof that (even after the failure of Rochester NY) independent clubs can thrive in this league and that it should look to expand more into independent markets. It may also entice more MLS outfits to look at generating separate brands and locations for their Next Pro sides, as Nashville has successfully done in Alabama.
Box Score
Carolina Core FC v Chattanooga FC
MLS Next Pro
Venue: Truist Point | High Point, NC
Final Score: Carolina Core 0-1 Chattanooga
Attendance: 4,477
Referee: Iryna Petrunok
Scoring summary:
89’: T. Robertson (CFC) - pen
Discipline:
45’: N. Mendonca (CFC) - foul, yellow card
69’: K. Ancelin (CFC) - foul, yellow card
79’: I. Covi (CCFC) - poor sportsmanship, yellow card
87’: I. Covi (CCFC) - foul, second yellow card, red card
90+6’: G. Turner (CFC) - foul, yellow card
Man of the Match: Eldin Jakupović (CFC) - made five saves and provided solid assurance for Chattanooga at the back.
Line-ups:
Carolina Core (5-4-1): Alex Sutton; Jathan Juarez, Ibrahim Covi, Daniel Chica, Juan Pablo Rodriguez, Paul Leonardi (Derek Cuevas 65'); Facundo Canete, Aryeh Miller (Alenga Charles 74'), Jesus Ibarra (Antonio Pineda 66'), Jacob Evans (C) (Glory Nzingo 65'); Anthony Sumo Jr. (Joshua Rodriguez 74')
Subs not used: Andrew Pannenberg, Zion Scarlett, Kai Thomas, Corey Lundeen
Head Coach: Manuel Goldberg
Chattanooga FC (4-3-3): Eldin Jakupović; Milo Garvanian, Logan Brown (Steeve Louis Jean 65'), Farid Sar-Sar (C), Tate Robertson; Callum Watson (Luke Husakiwsky 46'), Nick Mendonca, Gavin Turner; Daniel Mangarov (Anthony García 72'), Markus Naglestad (Keegan Ancelin 46'), Colin Thomas (Jalen James 65')
Substitutes not used: Michael Barrueta, Xavier Rimpel, Darwin Ortiz
Head Coach: Chris Nugent
Next Games
• August 24th, 11:00 (ET): FC Cincinnati 2 v Carolina Core FC, NKU Soccer Stadium, Highland Heights, KY (MLS Next Pro)
• August 23rd, 19:00 (ET): Chattanooga FC v Huntsville City FC, Finley Stadium, Chattanooga, TN (MLS Next Pro)
It would be amazing if you could secure an interview with Nashville or Huntsville staff about their "independent branding" relationship (including pros and cons or how that relationship came about?)! One imagines that while that allows an organic fan base to build in Huntsville and drive up ticket and merch sales, "somebody" has to shoulder the increased travel costs of players, coaches, and staff between Nashville and Huntsville. The two hours each way takes a major toll on personal lives. The distance also means that the MLSNP players in Huntsville can't rely on Nashville infrastructure, from sharing office to living spaces or even field equipment & training fields.