CHATTANOOGA, TN - Lookout Mountain is no stranger to fierce battles. This afternoon it overlooked this season’s third and last Battle of the Independents in this regular season. And a battle it was! And like all battles, it had heroes, and it had villains.
Chattanooga FC, chasing a home playoff berth this offseason, did more than enough to win today’s game. Through 11 shots, three on target, and two big chances, they besieged the visiting Carolina Core FC for large swaths of this match. Tate Robertson, Gavin Turner, Yuval Cohen, and Anthony García were each presented with multiple chances to win. They were kept at bay by some excellent defending from Core center-back pairing Daniel Chica and Juan Pablo Rodríguez. Alex Sutton, Carolina’s goalkeeper, also had a good game. Frustratingly, however, CFC seemed their own worst enemy in the final third, often either spraying crosses or passes awry or having too many players bundled into the middle of the box when receiving the ball. Attempt after attacking attempt was missed, and Robertson probably deserved at least one assist tonight.
Not that the Core was slacking themselves. They’re chasing a playoff berth outright and the two points they took home today will be crucial in their quest for post-season soccer. While CFC were the better attacking side, Carolina had slightly more of the ball and created their own opportunities, mainly through captain Facundo Canete. Jesus Ibarra, former a hero at Finley Stadium and returning to Chattanooga as an opposing team player for the first time, was closely handled by CFC’s defenders, particularly Robertson, Farid Sar-Sar, and Nathan Koehler. The latter would see yellow for this in the first half. Canete and Ibarra not scoring tonight was largely due to the performance of Sar-Sar who was imperious, as was evergreen Eldin Jakupović behind him in the CFC goal, who had to make three crucial saves, including one very late on.
This was a hard-fought match as both sides were chasing something season-defining, not leaving anything out on the field. Luke Husakiwsky, Gavin Turner, and substitute Nick Mendonca gave Carolina nothing in midfield, an area I think CFC dominated. Carolina’s defenders Chica, Rodríguez, and Kai Thomas were making life very tough for Yuval Cohen and Anthony García. Both at 6-2, Chica and Thomas towered over Cohen. Nonetheless, while he didn’t score tonight, the 19-year-old held up play well and never stopped trying. He was on the field for the entire game.
Some other good performances came from Turner in CFC’s midfield. As well as stopping Core attacks, the DC United loanee showed his guile with some excellent footwork and passing on the creative end. Substitute Keegan Ancelin also looked dangerous when deployed on the right wing. But for all the hard work, neither team could hit the net.
As we entered the dying moments of the game, substitute Markus Naglestad briefly thought he’d won it. He was offside and his strike; while initially fooling the crowd into thinking it was a goal, had actually hit the side netting. Then Sutton, the villain of this battle, appeared to make a crying gesture at the Chattanooga fans, among whom he is somewhat maligned.
Suddenly we were into penalties. And, for only the Core’s second of the night, up stepped Sutton himself. His effort beat Jakupović but struck the post. The crowd were delighted. You can’t write these scripts.
But the battle was over when Zion Scarlett’s penalty conversion ended the affair 6-5 to the visitors. The Core march home with a playoff lifeline. CFC got a point; it will have to do. There’s more soccer to be played, more battles to be fought.
Talking points
Shoot-outs following draws in MLS Next Pro games are weird things. I’ve spoken to fans, players, coaches, and club officials about them. There seems to be a general sense that they change what is normally a neutral reaction to a draw, into the kind of pain or joy that accompany outright losses and wins. I’m all for keeping them as I think they give good exposure to young players to an intense activity that may make it easier for them to undertake later in their career in more high-pressure moments, such as knockout games. It also provides additional entertainment for fans, giving them something more to leave the stadium with than a mere draw. But they certainly have a strange effect on one’s emotions.
Despite not winning, Chattanooga FC are still in a good spot. Chicago’s 5-2 thrashing today at the hands of Philadelphia, means CFC are just one point off the Fire in fourth, with a game-in-hand. Much will depend on the outcome of Orlando City B v Huntsville City which is being played as this report is written. Regardless, as Head Coach Chris Nugent said, it doesn’t matter, as CFC will look to win every game.
Fans might have been worried to see Nathan Koehler taken off at half-time, given his importance to this side and his only recent return from injury. Nugent dispelled such worries when I asked him about it in the post-game press conference, explaining that he’s simply looking to manage his resources as best he can, given the tight three-game run in the space of eight days.
Today was a battle, and fans of both sides love to see their players fight for their team and their jersey. And both sets of players did so. Nonetheless, it was nice to see the warmth and respect shared by them following the final whistle. Ibarra, so recently a CFC player, was embraced by his former teammates after being gamely hounded by them on the field. He enjoyed a lengthy catch-up with Callum Watson, Ameziane Sid Mohand, Michael Barrueta. Even villainous Alex Sutton shared some warm words and embraces with Markus Naglestad. These two are veterans of many battles against one another, going back to NISA days. In the shadow of Lookout Mountain, it was nice to see such camaraderie across lines and a strong reminder that soccer is more than just what we see on the field. The game we love is played by real people with real relationships, friendships, and life experiences. When battle is done, laws of chivalry are observed, and mutual respect conveyed. Isn’t sport beautiful!
Box Score
Chattanooga FC v Carolina Core FC
MLS Next Pro
Venue: Finley Stadium | Chattanooga, TN
Attendance: 4,055
Final Score: Chattanooga 0-0 Carolina Core (Carolina won 6-5 on penalties)
Referee: Mark Verso
Shootout summary:
T. Robertson (CHA) ✓ 1-0
J. Evans (CAR) ✓ 1-1
M. Naglestad (CHA) ✓ 2-1
A. Sutton (CAR) X 2-1
M. Garvanian (CHA) X 2-1
JP. Rodríguez (CAR) ✓ 2-2
Y. Cohen (CHA) ✓ 3-2
K. Thomas (CAR) ✓ 3-3
F. Sar-Sar (CHA) ✓ 4-3
G. Nzingo (CAR) ✓ 4-4
N. Mendonca (CHA) ✓ 5-4
A. Sumo Jr. (CAR) ✓ 5-5
L. Brown (CHA) X 5-5
Z. Scarlett (CAR) ✓ 5-6
Discipline:
23’: D. Chica (CAR) - foul, yellow card
35’: N. Koehler (CHA) - foul, yellow card
44’: M. Garvanian (CHA) - foul, yellow card
62’: K. Thomas (CAR) - foul, yellow card
Man of the Match: Daniel Chica (CAR) - Expertly handled CFC’s young attackers using his physicality as well as his experience and cleverness to often get the better of them. Positions himself so well and always seemed to be there to snuff out attacks and through balls.
Line-ups:
Chattanooga FC (4-3-3): Eldin Jakupović; Milo Garvanian, Farid Sar-Sar (C), Nathan Koehler (Logan Brown 45’), Tate Robertson; Luke Husakiwsky (Nick Mendonca 60’), Gavin Turner (Markus Naglestad 88’), Callum Watson; Daniel Mangarov (Keegan Ancelin 61’), Anthony García (Colin Thomas 75’), Yuval Cohen
Substitutes not used: J. P. Philpot, Ethan Dudley, Steeve Louis Jean, Xavier Rimpel
Head Coach: Chris Nugent
Carolina Core FC (5-4-1): Alex Sutton; Paul Leonardi (Derek Cuevas 86’), Juan Pablo Rodríguez, Daniel Chica, Kai Thomas, Jathan Juarez (Zion Scarlett 86’); Facundo Canete, Aryeh Miller (Jacob Evans 59’), Alenga Charles, Tony Pineda (Glory Nzingo 73’); Jesus Ibarra (Anthony Sumo Jr. 59’)
Substitutes not used: Andrew Pannenberg, Ibrahim Covi, Corey Lundeen, Drake Hadeed
Head Coach: Donovan Ricketts
Next Games
• September 24th, 19:30 (ET): Atlanta United 2 v Chattanooga FC, Fifth Third Stadium, Kennesaw, GA (MLS Next Pro)
• September 27th, 19:30 (ET): Carolina Core FC v Orlando City B, Truist Point, High Point, NC (MLS Next Pro)