Match Preview: Carolina Core FC v Chattanooga FC
Independents clash as CFC looks to extend unbeaten run
Game details
Match: Carolina Core FC v Chattanooga FC
Date: Sunday, April 13th, 2025. 15:00 (Eastern)
Venue: Truist Point Stadium, High Point, NC. Capacity: 5,000
How to watch: Apple TV (MLS Season pass)
Tickets: Carolina Core website
Chattanooga FC visits North Carolina this Sunday (KO 3pm) to face off against fellow independent club Carolina Core FC. The visitors come to High Point top of the MLS Next Pro Eastern Conference with 3 wins and 1 tie in their four league games so far. It’ll be hoping to extend this run against a team who held a superior record over it in 2024. The hosts, meanwhile, have had a more inconsistent start to 2025, with a win, a tie, and a loss apiece from three games. They sit in 9th place, six points behind CFC.
Carolina Core holds a 2-1-0 record against Chattanooga. First meeting in April of last year, CFC was the clear 2-0 winner at home, with goals from Jesus Ibarra and Milo Garvanian. The Foxes, however, returned to raid the Finley Stadium henhouse in June, snatching a 2-1 win against 10-man Chattanooga, with goals from Facundo Canete and Joshua Rodriguez. The Core would win best of three in July when it hosted CFC and ran out the 2-1 winner again though an Ibrahim Covi penalty and a strike from Jacob Evans.
The Foxes have looked strong at home so far, beating the UPSL’s Soda City FC (4-2) in the US Open Cup First Round and absolutely thumping New York City FC II 5-0 last weekend in league play. Chattanooga has been good on the road, impressively overcoming Inter Miami II (2-1) in its season opener and tying Atlanta United 2 away (2-2) before winning on penalties. A solid home record versus a solid away record takes place in the Battle of the Independents.
Report cards and lineups
Carolina Core FC
Carolina Core’s win over NYCFC II last weekend was its first of the MLS NEXT Pro season. The Foxes found the net five times through five different goalscorers with David “Pachi” Polanco, Jacob Evans, Facundo Canete, Derek Cuevas, and debutant Glory Nzingo all netting. Carolina controlled the game with 55% possession, 25 total shot attempts, and seven shots on target.
A win over CFC on Sunday would place the Core in a strong early playoff running position.
Head Coach Donovan Ricketts has been consistent with selections and tactics all season so far. Playing a deep 5-man defense with an offensively minded midfield, they’ve conceded 7 goals and scored 12 across their five games so far. One player I expect to be given his first league start is Irish midfielder Glory Nzingo. The 20-year-old came off the bench at half-time against NYCFC II and duly registered two goal contributions (one goal, one assist), a 93% pass accuracy rate, and created five chances for the Foxes. The Dubliner is a quality attacker with experience at Reims and Swansea and caps for his country at youth level.
Another player CFC will need to marshal closely is captain Jacob Evans. The Englishman leads the team with three goals so far this season. Evans, Facundo Canete, and Ibrahim Covi all scored against Chattanooga last year.
Chattanooga FC
Chattanooga FC has started the league season in fine form and remains undefeated (3-0-1) heading into the match. The club sits at the summit of the Eastern Conference on 11 points, 1 point clear of second-placed New York Red Bulls II. In their last league game, they soundly beat Orlando City B 2-0 at home thanks to goals from substitutes Keegan Ancelin and Daniel Mangarov.
The glaring hole in CFC’s lineup will be that of club captain Alex McGrath. The Englishman is out for the remainder of the season after picking up an injury at Atlanta United 2. McGrath is arguably his side’s most important player and his absence will be hugely felt by both the club and its fans.
Farid Sar-Sar will take the captain’s armband and lead his side. The Argentine has been excellent this season, commanding a strong defense and demonstrating his experience in this league. Milo Garvanian and Jesus Ibarra both scored against the Core last year, however the two players to watch this time out are Ancelin and Mangarov who I expect to start. Both boast 5 goal contributions each (3 goals, 2 assists) in 6 appearances for CFC this season.
Analysis and Prediction
While the Core is strong at home and showed last weekend that it can score goals from across the team; I anticipate CFC being too strong. Chattanooga looks lethal on both ends of the field and Chris Nugent’s side seems to be able to win games in multiple ways. Carolina Core 1-2 Chattanooga, and I’ll bet on Ancelin to be on that scoresheet.