MLS NEXT Pro: Match Preview - Chattanooga FC vs Inter Miami II
- Philip Farrell
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
Credit: Chattanooga FC
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
Match: Inter Miami CF II v Chattanooga FC
Date: Friday, May 8th, 2026. 19:00 (Eastern)
Venue: Inter Miami CF Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Capacity: 21,550
How to watch: OneFootball, MLSNextPro.com, YouTube
Tickets: From $15 on SeatGeek
Fort Lauderdale is the setting for a Friday MLS Next Pro bout, as Chattanooga Football Club comes visiting Inter Miami CF II.
Miami (W:0 D:3 L:5 SOW:1 GF:9 GA:21 GD:-12) look desperate so far in 2026, much as they did in 2025, and are coming off a three-game losing streak. This streak includes two matches at home and they’ve only picked up one point from three home games. Most recently they fell to a 3-1 loss away at Columbus Crew 2 in a game in which they nearly matched their opponents across most metrics, but still came away well beaten. Head Coach Cristian Ledesma needs to start getting a tune out of these players soon, as they sit rock bottom in the Eastern Conference and second-last overall.
Chattanooga (W:3 D:1 L:4 SOW:0 GF:13 GA:14 GD:-1) comes into the game also hurting after a 2-0 loss at home to Huntsville last Saturday. CFC hit the woodwork twice and had a Damien Barker John penalty saved that day, losing a game they should have at least tied. Having dropped to tenth, they need to find a winning formula to keep pace with the pack leaders. This is especially the case now, as we enter the summer portion of the campaign, a period in which they’ve struggled in both their two seasons so far in MLS Next Pro.
The match starts at 7pm Eastern. Players and fans can expect a muggy 73% humidity and about 85 degree temperature come kick-off. Streaming will be available on MLSNextPro.com, the league’s YouTube channel, and the OneFootball app with officiating by Mario Maric.
The History:
Inter Miami II: W:1 D:2 L:3 SOW:0 GF:14 GA:16 GD:-2
Chattanooga: W:3 D:2 L:1 SOW:2 GF:16 GA:14 GD:+2
With wins in half of the games played between these two teams, Chattanooga FC has the upper-hand historically on the Herons. The Tennesseans have also triumphed in both shoot-outs between them. And while the goal-count (30) across those six games seems high, it is a trio of results (6-2 to Chattanooga and 5-1 to Miami, both in 2024, and a 3-3 tie in 2025) that inflate the record. Nonetheless, neither side has kept a clean sheet across the six meetings.
Last season, CFC emerged 2-1 winners at Inter Miami II on the season’s opening day. They would meet twice more, both times at Finley Stadium. Both those games were tied with Chattanooga winning the PKs. Jalen James, formerly of CFC and now retired (according to Transfermarkt) is the fixture’s top scorer with four goals. Daniel Mangarov (CFC), Idoh Zeltzer-Zubida (MIA), and Alejandro Flores (MIA) are all players who could feature on Friday and add to their three goals each in the fixture. Friday’s match-up will be the first of three between these two sides in 2026’s regular season. On Saturday July 4, Miami will visit CFC at Finley Stadium, while Chattanooga will return to Fort Lauderdale on July 31.
Report Cards and Lineups:
Miami - We’re into May and Inter Miami II are still looking for their first win of the season. They sit 16th and last in the Eastern Conference with a total of four points. Miami’s most recent outing was a 3-1 loss to Columbus Crew 2 on May 3 with forward Idoh Zelter-Zubida scoring their only goal. Miami had taken an early 9th minute lead before the Crew staged a strong comeback. Zeltzer-Zubida’s goal came after he danced through the Columbus defense and slotted the ball into the top left corner after a pass from Vorenkamp. It was Zeltzer-Zubida’s fifth of the season, and Vorenkamp’s third assist.
Predicted Starting XI: Matias Marin; Samuel Basabe, Nicolas Almeida, Tyler Hall, Theo Vorenkamp; Ian Urkidi (C), Joseph Convers, Alejandro Flores, Preston Plambeck; Idoh Zeltzer-Zubida, Mateo Saja
Christian Ledesma is into his second season as Inter Miami II’s Head Coach. The 47-year old took over from predecessor and compatriot Federico Higuaín last March and oversaw a difficult 2025 that saw just six wins in 28 games. 2026 has fared little better and you suspect there might be some pressure mounting on the former Argentina international in the halls of Miami Freedom Park. Over their past three games, all losses, Ledesma has put out some form of 4-3-3. Spanish wing-back Theo Vorenkamp has played more minutes than anyone else (657) and is the side’s key goal creator, with three assists, and has issued 12 key passes (second most). Alejandro Flores has drawn 13 fouls across just seven games, meaning CFC will need to be careful managing him.
Undoubtedly, Miami’s key player and the one to watch on Friday is forward Idoh Zeltzer-Zubida. The 21-year-old has five goals in six games (four starts) and hit seven of his 13 shots on target. He has also scored not one but two Goals of the Week so far in 2026. In matchweek four he scored a lovely curling shot at Orlando City B early in the game to level the game. He would go on to score a second in the 4-4 draw. The following week, he was at it again, this time at Carolina Core where he pounded in a header in the 36th minute of a 1-1 draw to give his side the lead. Although, as good as his finish was, the assist from Vorenkamp was what really made the goal.
Chattanooga - Like Miami, Chattanooga are also coming off a three-game losing run. However, one of these was against Atlanta United in the Open Cup and probably isn’t reflective of league form. Nonetheless, they are just off a painful 2-0 home loss to nearby rivals Huntsville. CFC had enjoyed the majority of possession and chances, but were sunk by two excellent attacking goals from their Alabaman guests. Salt was rubbed into the wounds by a Damien Barker John penalty save after Tate Robertson had hit the woodwork not once, but twice. Agony!
Predicted Starting XI: Eldin Jakupović; Yves Tcheuyap, Mattias Hanchard, Farid Sar-Sar (C), Anthony Sorenson; Tate Robertson, Daniel Mangarov, Isaiah Jones; Damien Barker-John, Anthony García, Alex Krehl
Head Coach Richard Dixon was without the services of captain Alex McGrath against Huntsville, so I am not sure about his availability come Friday. Left-back Anthony Sorenson was suspended, so he’ll be back. New faces appeared on the bench on Saturday in the form of Ghanaian pair Francis Amoateng and Kenneth Tsokli, as well as Argentine forward Alexis Arrúa, who all arrived having cleared the visa process. Another important face on the bench was that of Yuval Cohen, the former Inter Miami striker, who has missed the season so far after an injury in pre-season against One Knoxville. How important will his return be?
I anticipate a typical 4-3-3 from Dixon, led from the back by veteran keeper Eldin Jakupović and Argentine center-back Farid Sar-Sar (another former Inter Miami player). Dixon opted for the masked Nathan Koehler alongside Sar-Sar against Huntsville, so I wonder if he’ll rotate to Mattias Hanchard for Friday. The returning Sorenson and Canadian full-back Yves Tcheuyap should flank them. The midfield trio will depend on McGrath’s availability, but I strongly expect Isaiah Jones and Tate Robertson to start, as they’ve done for every league game under Dixon. Up front is more of a lottery, as the Jamaican has a number of talented options available in the middle and on the wing.
Jakupovic has kept just one clean sheet in 2026. As a former Switzerland international and Premier League goalkeeper who has played at the very top of this game, he’ll be striving for more shut-outs and defensive solidity. He’s a remarkable player to watch, and you can never witness a CFC game these days without being impressed by him. His experience is backed up by his ability and his presence in the team, rarely do goalkeepers look so commanding across the entire field, and not just in their own box. As someone who’ll be raring possibly more than anyone for a win and that clean sheet, I’m going for him as my CFC player to watch on Friday. Be prepared to hear him, as well as see him.
Analysis and Predictions -
This is a hard one to call. Inter Miami don’t look great at all, but Chattanooga equally could be vulnerable, especially away from home in the Florida humidity. Nonetheless, I’m going for a CFC win. The nature of their losses against Huntsville and also Crown Legacy before that suggest that they’re playing okay, but have just been unlucky. Another win should be on the horizon for them if they keep playing as they have. For Miami though, there’s far more soul searching and back-to-basics required. They’re off the pace and should be beatable for the visitors this Friday.
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