MLS NEXT Pro Game Of The Week: Matchweek 2
Welcome to the first of what I expect to be a new series where I’ll highlight a “Game of the Week” for teams in MLS NEXT Pro’s Southeast Division. The goal here is not necessarily an in-depth game preview, but instead to breakdown the who, what, where, when, and why I think you should be tuning in.
The Details
Who: Chattanooga FC vs Huntsville City FC
Where: Finley Stadium (Chattanooga, TN)
When: Saturday, March 15th - 7:00pm 1:00pm ET (game moved due to inclement weather)
How (to watch): MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
The Rundown
There is no snappy “Derby” name yet, there is no bad blood yet, and you can’t even really call this one a rivalry yet. But even so, all of the ingredients for a budding rivalry are here: proximity, annual playoff ramifications, passionate fans, indie vs affiliate… The list could go on and on. As any fan will tell you though, true rivalries take time. They take years and years of Supporter Group barbs off the field and bad fouls on it to develop into something palpable. Small moments that build year after year, and those tend to happen in games like this Saturday’s matchup.
A Saturday afternoon, home opener at “Fort Finley” is the exact kind of vibrant atmosphere that is a must-watch regardless of any rivalry discussion though. The fact they are facing the team that plays less than two hours away just adds to the excitement.
The Context
Last week, we saw Chattanooga FC win a tough fought match over Inter Miami II. They got off to a hot start scoring almost immediately after a brutal turnover by Miami. Scoring that goal was new signing Keegan Ancelin, it was his first professional goal after spending four seasons in the NCAA. Later in the 56th minute, defender Milo Garvanian scored a Goal-of-the-Week nominee to break the tie and secure CFC the 3 points. After an offseason spent filling holes in their roster, they head home to face a dramatically rebuilt Huntsville squad in front of what should be a fantastic crowd.
Huntsville City had a much easier time as they dismantled a Chicago Fire II that was likely missing a few pieces. New signing Christian Koffi was the star of the match for Huntsville, scoring a brace against his former club. This was exactly the result Huntsville fans wanted to see after an offseason that was spent overhauling nearly every part of the roster. Now, they’re talented, filled with MLS NEXT Pro experience, and I think they know it. They’ve set some ambitious goals for this season, but they’ll need to win these kind of games if they want to accomplish them.
With all that said, it’s impossible to say who either of these teams are after just one match. Chattanooga is likely better than the scoreline showed, and Huntsville won’t be able to bully Chattanooga in the same way they did a depleted Fire II roster. For now though, they sit #2 (Huntsville) and #5 (Chattanooga) in the league’s Power Rankings, making this one of the more exciting matchups across the entire league.
The Prediction
Chattanooga’s new-found aggressiveness going forward is too much to handle for a Huntsville squad that is still sorting themselves out after so many offseason additions. It’ll be a close one, but CFC hangs on for 3 points.
Result: Chattanooga wins (3-2)
Final Thoughts
Both of these teams made big changes in the offseason with games exactly like this in mind. Remember, in MLS NEXT Pro division winners automatically secure a playoff spot regardless of overall table finish. Securing 3 points is the goal, but preventing your divisional opponents their 3 points can be hugely important at the end of the season.
Lastly, both of these teams have dedicated Southeast Soccer Report writers who provide excellent coverage that you should read if you enjoyed this article. They’ll be writing a much more in-depth game preview for this one, so be sure to check it out!