Match Preview: Chattanooga FC v Corpus Christi FC

CFC kicks-off its tenth US Open Cup campaign against USL League Two visitors Corpus Christi

Photo crredit: MLS Next Pro

Game details

Match: Chattanooga FC v Corpus Christi FC

Date: Wednesday, March 19th, 2025. 18:30 (Eastern)

Venue: Finley Stadium, Chattanooga, TN. Capacity: 20,412

How to watch: YouTube

Tickets: CFCTIX.com

Chattanooga FC will play host this Wednesday evening to Corpus Christi FC, visitors from the Coastal Bend region of Texas. This is the first ever meeting of the two sides and comes in the opening round of this year’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The fixture is one of 32 First Round games that will raise the curtain on this year’s Cup, all of which see professional teams face-off against amateur or semi-pro opposition.

Played at Finley Stadium in the Scenic City, the game will be available to stream on YouTube.

For Chattanooga, the game represents a chance to exorcise the demons from their last Cup game, when they lost 1-0 at home to the UPSL’s Miami United in the First Round last year. While Wednesday’s opposition may be part timers, don’t expect CFC to take them lightly.

For Corps Christi FC, this is their first ever Cup game, having strolled to the USL League Two’s Lone Star division last year. As their Head Coach Manuel Iwabuchi explained to the Southeast Soccer Report, they’re ambitious and are not merely here to make up the numbers.

Record

This will be Chattanooga’s tenth Cup run since they made their debut in the competition in 2011. Their best finish is the Third Round, which they reached in 2014, 2025, 2016, 2022, and 2023 (although it should be noted that in some seasons, they didn’t need to play in the First Round). Last season’s early elimination at home at the hands of Miami United was a disappointing start to their first year as an MLS Next Pro side. Lessons will have been learned and the club, and especially the players returning from 2024, will be keen to not let something similar happen again. Given the team missed out on playoff soccer last year; CFC’s fans will be hungry for knockout tournament soccer and a deep run in the Cup.

For Corpus Christi, while this will be the Shark’s debut Cup appearance, they’ve been involved in league play in USL’s third tier since 2018. Last season they stormed to 1^st place in the Lone Star, with a 10-1-1 record. They banged in a whopping 45 goals in 12 regular season games, more than any of the other 127 League Two sides. Tennessee Soccer Club were dispatched 5-3 after extra time in the Conference Quarter Finals before Little Rock Rangers were vanquished 5-4 on penalties in Arkansas. Their run was finally ended by Asheville City in the Conference Finals in Virginia Beach, going down to a bitter 1-0 loss. This is a dangerous, attacking lower league side who know how to score goals. They’re also ambitious, moving up to USL League One in 2026.

Photo credit: Corpus Christi FC

Report cards and lineups

Chattanooga FC

Chattanooga will be hoping to continue its strong start to 2025, which has seen them claim two victories to start their MLS NEXT Pro season. In both games, they’ve started roughly the same XI.

While Head Coach Chris Nugent certainly won’t underestimate Corpus Christi, I expect him to rotate the squad heavily and rest many of those who’ve started games so far. Milo Garvanian, Eldin Jakupović, Nick Mendonca, Tate Robertson, and Farid Sar-Sar have all played 180 minutes this season, so I anticipate all five will be rested. Wednesday’s match will represent a golden opportunity for those on the fringes of the squad to lay their claim to a starting berth.

As the 39-year-old Jakupović will likely be kept for league play; this gives either local lad Michael Barrueta or new signing J.P. Philpot the chance to keep goal. At the back, Nathan Koehler is a left-footed center back so could be slotted in at left-back with Robert Screen likely to start on the right. Ethan Dudley and Logan Brown have each played a game alongside Sar-Sar this year, so I believe the Argentine will be rested and the former two will link up.

In midfield, Steeve Louis Jean and academy product Darwin Ortiz will likely get a start. I anticipate Coach Nugent keeping one of Callum Watson or Alex McGrath to ensure creative quality and solidity in midfield. Daniel Mangarov has two goal contributions to his name this year, but I still expect him to eventually make way on the wing when Jesus Ibarra, Minjae Kwak, and Ameziane Sid Mohand are all fit. So, Nugent may opt to keep him for this Cup tie. Ibarra came off the bench against Huntsville City at the weekend, so he’s fit again and should start. I believe Kwak will be rested, and Sid Mohand is still injured.

Up front, Keegan Ancelin has been excellent since signing but will be rested. The status of Peter Plougmand’s injury/fitness is unclear, so club icon Markus Naglestad may start his 99th game for CFC.

Corpus Christi FC

Corpus Christi’s USL League Two season doesn’t kick off until May, so their roster will not have been fully developed yet. They’re holding a training camp in Chattanooga this week to prepare for the game and identify the best squad of players available to them.

When I spoke to Head Coach Manuel Iwabuchi last week, he told me he expects Chattanooga FC to be structured and well organized, creative, and open to adjustments in terms of breaking his team down. But he feels the pressure all rests with the home side. “For us, there isn't a ton of pressure. There's more pressure on them to take care of business because that's what's expected. We're not there to squeak by and sit down in front of the goal; we want to go out and play. If they counter the things we do, we'll adjust and continue to play our game.”

Analysis and prediction

Wednesday’s match-up will be the first time Corpus Christi plays a competitive game against a professional opponent. They are doing so away from home in front of a crowd-size and partisan atmosphere not typically experienced by USL League Two players. Add to this is the fact that the tie comes two months before Corpus Christi’s league season is due to begin, while Chattanooga’s is already underway, and the odds are stacked very much against the visitors from Texas.

Within the ‘magic of the cup’ there’s always a chance, but the smart money is on Chattanooga. The Sharks are a team that knows how to score goals though, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see them grab one at Finley Stadium.

Prediction: Chattanooga FC 3-1 Corpus Christi FC