CFC use their heads to continue run
- Philip Farrell
- 16 hours ago
- 3 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
Chattanooga Football Club extended its unbeaten streak to 11 games on Friday evening after a 2-2 tie away at Toronto FC II.
Toronto Head Coach Gianni Cimini made five changes from the starting eleven that defeated Chicago Fire II on Monday with Gabriel Mikina, Richard Chukwu, Fletcher Bank, Dékwon Barrow and Jahmarie Nolan coming in for Stefan Kapor, Micah Chisholm, Lucas Dawson, Shyon Pinnock and Elias Khodri. Mikina, signed days before, made his debut as a starter. Meanwhile, CFC maestro Richard Dixon named a largely tried-and-true starting XI. Luke Hisakiwsky was given a rare start, ahead of Isaiah Jones midfield, while Argentina winger Alexis Arrúa made his first starting berth in MLS NEXT Pro.
While Chattanooga were favorites, it took only 11 minutes for the hosts to take the lead through Jahmarie Nolan, scoring his 9th goal and 12th goal contribution of the campaign. Toronto’s Fletcher Bank has a cross from the left punched clear by CFC goalkeeper Eldin Jakupović. Nolan was there to control the loose ball before volleying home.
The lead lasted only 12 minutes, however, as Alex Krehl headed in an equalizer for Chattanooga, scoring his 14th goal of the season, and for the third consecutive match. He latched onto a delightful cross sent in from the left by Daniel Mangarov. Krehl is now just one goal behind Golden Boot leader Arif Kovac (Atlanta United 2). It was Mangarov’s seventh assist of the season in all competitions.
The visitors then went ahead, late. In the 82nd minute Farid Sar-Sar headed in from a Luke Husakiwsky cross, who recorded his first assist of the season.
Richard Dixon and his men must have smelled a win, but it was not to be. The hosts would find an equalizer in the last action of stoppage time through substitute Damar Dixon who headed home Luca Costabile’s cross. Dixon was criminally unmarked and Chattanooga’s defense will have to hold its hands up for that, but the header itself looked harmless but seemed to stump Jakupović, a rare occurrence.
In an exceptionally close penalty shootout, CFC substitute forward Yuval Cohen would be the only player to miss in 10 penalties, his save being palmed by Adisa De Rosario onto the post.
Shared spoils then, with Toronto claiming a valuable bonus point.
Toronto heads to New Jersey next weekend to visit reigning champions New York Red Bulls II (Sunday, 23 August, 7pm ET). CFC, meanwhile, returns south to visit top-of-the-table Crown Legacy FC (Sunday, 23 August, 7pm ET). Depending on results elsewhere, that game may be first versus second…mouthwatering stuff!
BOX SCORE
Toronto FC II v Chattanooga FC
MLS Next Pro
Venue: York Lions Stadium (Toronto, ON)
Attendance:
Final Score: Toronto 2-2 Chattanooga (Toronto won 5-4 on penalties)
Referee: Thomas Noel (QBC)
Scoring summary:
11’: J. Nolan (TOR)
23’: A. Krehl (CFC)
82’: F. Sar-Sar (CFC)
90+4’: D. Dixon (TOR)
Shootout summary:
0-1: ✓ A. García (CFC)
1-1: ✓ J. Nolan (TOR)
1-2: ✓ A. Sid Mohand (CFC)
2-2: ✓ D. Dixon (TOR)
2-2: X Y. Cohen (CFC)
3-2: ✓ L. Dawson (TOR)
3-3: ✓ L. Husakiwsky (CFC)
4-3: ✓ L. Costabile (TOR)
4-4: ✓ F. Sar-Sar (CFC)
5-4: ✓ M. Stojadinovic (TOR)
Man of the Match: Adisa De Rosario (TOR) - Made three saves and kept his team in the game amidst a dominant Chattanooga attack. Also stepped up to make the difference in the penalty shootout. Another example of the high standard of goalkeeping we see in MLS Next Pro.
LINE UPS
Toronto FC II (4-4-2): Adisa De Rosario; Richard Chukwu (Luca Costabile 61'), Gabriel Mikina, Reid Fisher, Daniel Stampatori; Fletcher Bank (Damar Dixon 61'), Bryce Boneau (C), Marko Stojadinovic, Tristan Blyth (Lucas Dawson 61'); Jahmarie Nolan, Dekwon Barrow (Shyon Pinnock 85')
Substitutes not used: Dominic Kantorowicz, Micah Chisholm, Edwin Omoregbe, Stefan Kapor, Diego Nue-Brito
Head Coach: Gianni Cimini
Chattanooga FC (4-3-3): Eldin Jakupović; Anthony Sorenson, Mattias Hanchard, Farid Sar-Sar, Yves Tcheuyap; Luke Husakiwsky, Tate Robertson (Isaiah Jones 90'+1'), Alex McGrath (C); Daniel Mangarov (Anthony Garcia 80'), Alexis Arrúa (Ameziane Sid Mohand 62'), Alex Krehl (Yuval Cohen 62')
Substitutes not used: Griffin Huff, Nathan Koehler, Damien Barker John
Head Coach: Richard Dixon
NEXT GAMES
• Sunday 23rd August, 19:00 (ET): New York Red Bulls II v Toronto FC II, MSU Soccer Park, Montclair, NJ (MLS Next Pro)
• Sunday 23rd August, 19:00 (ET): Crown Legacy FC v Chattanooga FC, Sportsplex at Matthews, Matthews, NC (MLS Next Pro)
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