MLS NEXT PRO: Chattanooga FC’s Open Cup Run Ends in Valiant Effort Against Atlanta United
- Staff Writer
- 7 minutes ago
- 2 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Under the lights at Finley Stadium, Chattanooga FC (CFC) pushed Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United to the limit before ultimately falling 3-1 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32. In front of 5,292 fans—the second-largest home crowd in the club’s tournament history—the "Boys in Blue" proved they could trade punches with the nation's elite.
Interim Head Coach Richard Dixon was proud of the competitive fire his squad displayed, particularly in an electric first half. "Our team showed that we can compete," Dixon remarked. "We just need to be clinical in key moments."
Early Fireworks in the Scenic City
The match could not have started better for the hosts. In the 6th minute, Tate Robertson unleashed a cross-pitch long ball that was as ambitious as it was accurate. Defender Yves Tcheuyap latched onto the pass and hammered a shot into the top right corner for his first goal as a Blue, sending the Finley crowd into a state of euphoria.
Atlanta United, respecting the danger posed by the MLS NEXT Pro side, began to turn up the pressure. CFC goalkeeper Eldin Jakupović was forced into several high-level saves, but the visitors eventually found the equalizer in the 21st minute. Ajani Fortune whipped in a sharp cross that Cayman Togashi finished to level the match at 1-1.
Atlanta’s Quality Prevails
The match remained a back-and-forth affair through the break and into the early stages of the second half. Chattanooga nearly regained the lead when forward Alex Krehl broke free with a burst of speed, but his curling effort whistled just wide of the post.
As the match wore on, Atlanta United’s depth and fitness began to tilt the field. In the 64th minute, following a chaotic scramble inside the box, Fafa Picault managed to squeeze a shot off the left post and in to give the visitors their first lead of the night. Ten minutes later, Pedro Amador capitalized on a period of rising tension to score a third goal, effectively sealing the result for the Five Stripes.
Match Statistics
Stat | Chattanooga FC | Atlanta United |
Score | 1 | 3 |
Possession | 32% | 68% |
Shots (SOG) | 4 (2) | 17 (6) |
Total Passes | 311 | 647 |
Clearances | 20 | 10 |
What’s Next?
While the Open Cup journey has concluded, Chattanooga FC must pivot immediately to league play. The squad faces one of their toughest challenges of the season this weekend as they travel to take on the Eastern Conference leaders.
Opponent: Crown Legacy FC
Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: Charlotte, NC
CFC exits the tournament having represented MLS NEXT Pro as its final remaining club, earning national respect for their aggressive "Why Not Us?" approach against an MLS powerhouse.
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