Match Preview: Chattanooga FC vs Huntsville City FC
Local derby sees sixth take on second
Huntsville City FC travels the short 101 mile trip north to face local rivals Chattanooga FC tonight in a crucial match-up for both sides.
Huntsville (P:21 W:11 D:6 L:4 SOW:4 GF:46 GA:24 GD:+22) sits second in the MLS Next Pro Eastern Conference, chasing New York Red Bulls II in first, and are unbeaten in six games. A mere two points from the summit of the table, they have a game-in-hand on New York and will be aiming to take home all three points in the Scenic City against a side that has beaten them twice this season.
For sixth place Chattanooga (P:22 W:9 D:7 L:6 SOW:4 GF:34 GA:33 GD:+1) it’s a different story. After a harrowing June and July without a win, this is a different side to the one that triumphed over Huntsville in the Spring. Aiming to get its season back on-track, Chattanooga needs an out-and-out home win to keep up the pace with the other playoff hopefuls and restore some much needed pride and belief at Finley Stadium.
CFC was victorious in both previous meetings between the two teams this season. On March 15 they met at Finley Stadium, with the home side earning a 1-0 win thanks Daniel Mangarov’s early finish. This was followed by a 2-1 for Chattanooga at Wicks Family Field on 17 May when goals from Mangarov and Nathan Koehler cancelled out an Alan Carleton strike.
Match Details
Date: Saturday August 23rd, 2025
Time: 6PM CST (local), 7PM EST (Chattanooga)
Location: Finley Stadium, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+
Head Coaches: Chris Nugent (CFC), Chris O’Neal (HNT)
Chattanooga Lineup Prediction
This week, Chattanooga announced a fifth mid-season signing, with Inter Miami CF II striker Yuval Cohen joining. Including the acquisitions of Gavin Turner on loan, Xavier Rimpel, Luke Husakiwsky, and Anthony GarcÃa; Cohen represents a significant mid-season shake-up by Head Coach Chris Nugent. These are all young players (Turner and Cohen still teenagers), a sign that the Manager may be looking for an injection of youthful energy as he aims to haul his side into the playoffs.
Last time out, CFC earned its first win in 10 games, beating Carolina Core 1-0 away. It was a man-of-the-match performance from goalkeeper Eldin Jakupović who was similarly instrumental in keeping Huntsville City at bay, back in March and May. Could the result in Carolina be the springboard that re-launches their season?
I don’t expect to see the exciting Cohen given a starting berth straight away, but like Husakiwsky or GarcÃa last weekend against the Core, I expect to see him off the bench. Both those players played a key role in Chattanooga’s victory in High Point and if CFC does win tonight, Cohen might play a similar role. Let’s not forget, he faced Huntsville City, suiting up for Miami, only last week and converted the team's lone penalty in the shootout.
Jakupović and captain Farid Sar-Sar co-lead the league in minutes played (1,980). Jakupović is one of only two goalkeepers at the joint top of the league in clean sheets, with six. Daniel Mangarov and Tate ‘Where’s My Chicken Nuggets’ Robertson share the club lead for goals scored (7). Robertsons’s eight assists (second most in the league) mean he leads in goal contributions (15). He’s been their most infuential player this year.
My player to watch, should he play, is central midfielder Luke Husiakewsky. During his substitute appearance and CFC debut last week at Carolina, the 22-year-old was forced to play central defense after only 20 minutes, and did so admirably. A flexible unit he’s also big and battling and it will be interesting to see how he handles Huntsville’s dominating possession and passing game in the middle of the park.
Huntsville Lineup Prediction
Should be a pretty straight forward lineup for Chris O’Neal on Saturday, especially with the return of Zach Barrett from suspension. He regains his place on the backline alongside Kevin Carmichael, Tyshawn Rose and Blake Bowen.
In midfield, I have Pep Casas and Philip Mayaka, the same pair as last time out against NYCFC II.
Ahead of them, I’ve got what I think has molded into a close-to-first-choice front four. Alan Carleton and Christian Koffi are nailed into their positions, but striker and right wing are less clear. Carleton could play there, and have Ethan O’Brien in the middle, or either of Damien Barker John or Real Gill on the right. I’ve got Gill in for this one.
Striker is a bit puzzling. Alioune Ka is in there for me here, but Gio Miglietti continues to get looks, as does Gunnar Studenhofft. Homegrown signing Adem Sipic seems on the fringe at best here, unfortunately.
Analysis & Predictions
Philip Farrell: After taking five points from a possible six, Chattanooga will be confident of facing anyone who comes to Finley right now. And with good reason. They’ve snapped a winless run and with two to three more wins from their last six games, they should manage to capture a playoff place.
The problem is, although at home and against a team they’ve beaten twice this year, Huntsville tonight is unlikely to result in one of those needed wins. Huntsville was arguably the better side both times these teams played each other, dominating the ball by an average of 72%-28% and outshooting CFC by an average of 3-1. And while there’s many ways to win games, and CFC did what they had to do to win those; I feel that three-out-of-three at these odds will be too much. A 2-1 win for the visitors.
Ronan Briscoe: As hot as Chattanooga is entering this one, Huntsville may be even hotter. They’ve taken 14 of a possible 15 points in their last five, and have actually leapfrogged CFC in the standings in that period as well.
A win for the Rocket Men (or Space Goats, testing out a few) would, for at least the night, send them atop the Eastern Conference. It is incredibly hard to beat a team three times in one season. But if anyone is tactically set up to do it, it might be Chattanooga.
I’ll be the boring lame stick in the mud here and predict a 1-1 draw. Both these teams are too good to really separate from each other, and it’s been very close in each of the last two meetings. Flip a coin on the shootout victor.