So, all our speculations and hypotheses turned out to be completely unnecessary. Chattanooga FC fought hard and played well, but the ball would not go in the goal. And so not even a draw was in the cards for the team as they fell 2-1 to the Knoxville Force on a very late goal. That loss means there will be no NPSL postseason for Chattanooga FC this year. After leading the league for most of the season — trading first occasionally amongst each other — Chattanooga FC, Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves and the Georgia Revolution all lose out to Jacksonville United (who clinched the Southeast Region title with their sixth straight win last night).

We don’t have much heart to rehash the game, but after a nice first goal by Knoxville in the 6th minute, Chattanooga FC seemed to take command of the game, pressing and attacking and missing opportunity after opportunity. In the last stoppage minutes of the first half Chris Ochieng won and then scored a PK to tie it all up. In the second half CFC started to throw everyone at the Force, again creating chance after chance, but never finding the goal — even with some very amazing opportunities. And all the offensive pressing led to a counterattack in the 89th minute that led to a bouncing header. 2-1 Knoxville.

Our Knoxville players are no doubt discouraged — forward Mark Sherrod played well but couldn’t find a goal, while midlfielder Cody McCoy seemed to have an off game and outside mid Tom Webster almost never got the ball. The rest of the guys played decently enough, and Nickson Odeny‘s presence in the back was helpful.

While result is certainly disappointing for us, it has to be much more so for the team as they had the chance to win the title in their grasp not once but three weeks in a row.

Well, it has certainly been a fun ride this season, with plenty of ups and downs. We have to encourage everyone to turn out for Saturday’s final match of the season against DC United’s U23 squad and let’s give our team a wonderful send off and thank you for another winning season!

Post by John Q. Chattanooga | Chattanooga FC, National
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While there is an extreme outside chance that Chattanooga FC could still win the division with a loss or a tie, it is very clear that the only way to ensure that title is by treating Saturday’s final regular season game at Knoxville Force as a playoff game — win or go home.

The scenarios as we know them:

1. We win, we win the division straight out with 20 points and no one can catch us. We’re off to the NPSL National Semifinals (just outside of Huntsville) for the second straight season.

We tie Knoxville: there are multiple scenarios…

2. If Georgia Revolution wins at Rocket City United (very likely as RCU has not won a home game this season), they win the division since the beat us in head-to-head competition (a tie at their place and that win in Finley last weekend).

3. If the Revolution tie Rocket City or lose, we win the division.

4. If Jacksonville United FC wins — and they have not lost at home — (and 3 happens), they would be tied with CFC. If that happens, we presume that CFC wins the division based on goal differential since our head-to-head is equal — we both won at home. CFC would have the leg up as we won 2-0 and lost only 1-0 (so +1 in head-to-head goal differential). And if CFC ties Knoxville our total goal differential would stay at the +6 it is now. The only way Jacksonville could beat us is if they beat Atlanta by 6 goals. Not very likely.

*BUT we do not know if this is how the NPSL would decide who wins if head-to-head competition is equal!

5. If JUFC ties or loses to Atlanta (and 3 happens) then CFC wins the division.

6. If Chattanooga FC loses and the Revolution and JUFC both tie or lose, CFC still wins the division.

Post by John Q. Chattanooga | Chattanooga FC
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While Chattanooga FC fans have alot to be worried about after Saturday’s crazy 4-3 loss to the Georgia Revolution, we can still console ourselves that the team remains in first place in the Southeast Division and can clinch a second consecutive title with a win in Knoxville next week.

Still, there is much to be concerned about. Would you rather hear the bad news first or the good news?

The Bad News:

Chattanooga FC lost its first game in Finley Stadium since May 2009 (when the team lost its inaugural season’s opener to Atlanta FC 3-1). Saturday’s first half was arguably the worst half of soccer since that game, and the first 60 mins most certainly were the worst ever in Finley for the team.

The defense gave up more goals in this game than it has in all the other NPSL game this season put together (4 in one vs 4 in the 8 previous games!). This is at a time in the season when you would hope the team is starting to peak, not fail…

Starting defender Nickson Odeny is injured (hence his lack of appearance), three season midfielder Ivan Heredia is not even on the bench (where is he?), and rumors are flying that a disagreement between wide mid Mark Beattie and Coach Crossman have made Beattie quit the team… Not good developments for play on the field or for team morale.

Stalwart defender Andy Stewart has taken a physical beating in the last two games… will he be full strength for the must-win game in Knoxville? What about if we win? Will he be 100% for the National title pursuit? What about sub and goal-scorer Luke Winter who came out with what looked like a not-good injury too?

Chattanooga FC has 17 points with one game left. Georgia Revolution and Jacksonville United have 15 with a game left. Both of them will most likely win next week, putting each at 18 points. If Chattanooga FC ties Knoxville Force, we’ll also have 18 — beating out Jacksonville in head-to-head, but losing to Georgia. Chattanooga FC has to win next week away to Knoxville.

Knoxville is coming off a tie with Monterrey and a win against Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves at home. They would love to end their less than stellar first season with a win against Chattanooga FC.

Thomas Hunter’s goals allowed average is shattered — going from 0.5 goals per game average in the first 8 games to now 0.89 goals per game average. Doubling total goals allowed: from 4 to 8!

However, there are a few high points worth noting…

The Good News:

Chattanooga FC came from 3-0 down after 60 minutes of play to tie the game 3-3 in less than 20 minutes. No matter what league you play in, you gotta admit that’s pretty damn good.

Two of the goals scored came from guys who had not scored yet this season: Luke Winter and Moises Drumond. By our rough count that makes 11 different scorers for Chattanooga FC this season.

The team played with heart and a never say die attitude that made all 2500 of the fans in Finley Stadium believe that we could come back and have a chance a victory… that’s pretty good when you’re team was down 3-0 with less than 30 minutes left in the game.

The offensive group that was in for the last half hour of the game was pretty dangerous. We averaged a goal every 10 minutes… maybe we should start the games with this offense?

For this game, we gotta name Men of the Match: Luke Winter and Moises Drumond — each for nabbing their first goals of the season and for making us believe that we could come back. Well done men!

So, one game left now. It’s win or go home. Let’s see what happens next week in Knoxville.

Post by John Q. Chattanooga | Chattanooga FC
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Our second annual international friendly ended much the same way our first one did — with Chattanooga FC beating our Mexican visitors by one goal. The CF Monterrey U20 squad may have been a few years younger than our team’s average, but they played a very mature level of soccer, and made things quite difficult for us. But our boys came through in flying colors for the come from behind win!

Some interesting twists for our squad: due to the holiday (or other obligations), we came into the game without several talented players — Chris Ochieng, Mark Sherrod, Nickson Odeny, James Moore and Moises Drumond — all absent for the game on the Fourth. And while Thomas Hunter was here, Coach Crossman gave backup (and third season local-boy-makes-good CFC-er) Ryan Peck his first start of the season. Michael Brooks and Robbie Hill got the starts up top, their first time on the field together… So the squad was a very different mix than we usually see, and perhaps very different than how they are used to playing as well.

While this Monterrey squad is quite young, it is very important to note that they are extremely talented. We heard word that 3 of these guys have been practicing with the professional squad (the one that has won the Primera Division and the CONCACAF Champions League!) and we should expect to see at least 2 of them on that team this fall. Then both of the goalies play for youth national teams (one for the US the other for Mexico)… So while young, these jugadores are no slouches.

On to the game notes:

Robbie Hill started us off with fireworks in the second minute of the game with his immaculately placed chip to the left upper 90 of the goal. The goalie didn’t even move — except to watch the ball float lazily into the net. A fantastic shot that he has to be so proud of — we loved it!

CF Monterrey looked a bit rattled for the next 10 minutes or so, and the entire stadium saw a hand ball in the box that somehow the head official decided not to notice… But Monterrey quickly found their feet again and started causing problems for our backs. But the defense held for the most part until that absolute crushing blast that Ryan Peck deflected (that had to hurt!) and another attacker poked into the back of the net to take us into the half all knotted up at 1-1.

Early in the second half, a Monterrey player embellished some contact in the box and got a penalty kick out of it. Monterrey converted to take the lead 2-1. At this point Chattanooga FC seemed to struggle a bit, looking as though we might go down.

Wholesale substitutions came on with about 30 minutes left: Luke Winter, Phil Beene, Ivan Heredia, Tom Webster, Josh Shields and Julian Algeier and the pace picked up quite a bit. CFC started creating more attacking chances, but nothing was converted.

Then with about 15 minutes left, Julian Algeier took the ball at the top of the box and attempted a shot that the rushing goalie knocked back into the midfield. Someone (who? Ivan? Luke?) slid to reach the flying ball and one-touched a volley over the goalie and into the box, where a running Phil Beene picked the ball out of the air and rocketed it into the back of the net to tie us up at 2-2! The crowd went bananas of course…

Then in the last 7 minutes of regulation, someone (again, who?) fired a beautiful cross from the far left side to Tom Webster who came bearing down on the 6 yard box at full speed. Tom trapped the ball perfectly at his feet, carefully sized up the keeper and slid the ball home into the back corner of the goal. Pandemonium erupted. CFC leads 3-2!

Of course Monterrey pressed hard and the head ref allowed a bit more stoppage time than he should’ve, but CFC held firm and won the game 3-2.

Well, we have to say that we are extremely proud of the team. A comeback win is not easy and it was certainly not expected from a good number of guys who have not had a great deal of play time this season. Based on what we saw this game (and Saturday in Conyers), we are quite impressed with the quality of play of our so-called substitutes. There is not much of a drop off in talent, and this bodes well for the us at the end of the season. And our Man of the Match is one of those subs: Tom Webster for his game winning shot! Well done.

What a great way to end our 4th of July — thanks fellas!

Post by John Q. Chattanooga | Chattanooga FC, International
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Our very first match the against NPSL newcomer Georgia Revolution in Conyers last Saturday did not end in the desired result. The 1-1 draw was a better outcome than an outright loss would’ve been, but it still leaves the door open for other teams in the Southeast to have hopes winning the region over Chattanooga FC.

A quick game recap:

Chattanooga FC started off slow, allowing the Revs’ top scorer a wide open shot at the top of the box in the third minute of play — resulting in a goal and a blemish on Thomas Hunter‘s outstanding reputation (3 goals allowed in 8 NPSL games). The home team — bolstered by this fortuitous turn of events — grew in confidence and pushed hard for a second goal for the next 10 minutes. After that, CFC seemed to find our feet and started to make opportunities in the attacking third of the field — Chris Ochieng had two great chances (ones where we cannot believe he did not score!) before finally making his most difficult prospect into a goal (chesting the ball to his feet between two defenders at the top of the box and coolly slotting it home around the 33rd minute). For the last 15 minutes the play opened up and there was a good bit of back and forth.

The 1-1 scoreline remained intact as the teams headed into the break.

CFC looked sharper and more organized coming out of halftime. The Revolution created a few dangerous plays, but Thomas Hunter rose to the occasion on two great saves (one a header and another a fantastic free kick), and the good old post came to the rescue on a final attempt in the waning minutes of the game. Meanwhile on the other end, CFC had at least 5 great opportunities to score, but came up empty on all of them. Substitutes came on en masse: Luke Winter had two notable chances as did Julian Algeier, but alas, nothing came to fruition. A draw was all we could muster.

Worth noting:

The exact same woman referee from the Silverbacks game in Atlanta (the very one who allowed the goal after the ball was headed out of Thomas Hunter’s hands!) completely ignored a blatant shove in the back in the box: Julian Algeier got past all the defenders and was heading to the 6 when he was shouldered directly in the back, knocking him to the ground. The defender was not shoulder-to-shoulder, nor did he have any fair play on the ball, yet somehow she deemed Julian was flopping. Mighty poor officiating and very good homecooking.

But if that’s what you need to get a tie (not even a win) Georgia, then you are in for a world of hurt when you come up to Chatty this Satty. We will beat you. Because last Saturday we were missing some starters: notably forward Mark Sherrod and defender Nickson Odeny. Oh, and you’ll have 2,000-plus screaming fans cheering against you!

Oh, and our Man-of-the-Match is Chris Ochieng for the equalizer goal.

What this means to our Region Title hunt:

CFC rests on 17 points, still 5 ahead of the Georgia Revolution. If the Revs beat us and win their last game, they would have 18, so we would still need to win one more to beat them and win the region. If we tie or beat them, they can’t reach us.

The Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves won against Rocket City 1-0 on a PK, so they have 14 with two games left. It is unlikely that they will win down in Jacksonville, but in theory they could still get to 20 points if they win out, so CFC needs one more win to seal the deal, since our tie and win over them in head-to-head would give us the league title with 20 points. And if JUFC beats Atlanta, the best they could hope for is to tie our current 17 points and still lose on head-to-head.

Then there’s the outside chance that Jacksonville could get to 18 by winning both of their last games, in which case CFC would need at least a tie out of our last two games — but that’s cutting it close as we would win by total goal differential or by a +1 goal differential in our head-to-head competition.

And with all of this we are not mentioning that our last game of the season is at the struggling Knoxville Force (1 win, 1 draw and 6 losses) — a likely (but not certain) 3 points. So it is possible for CFC to lose this Saturday and still win the region. But we would rather have that game not matter by winning this Saturday!

Chattahooligans: let’s turn out the fans for the biggest attendance yet this Saturday and cheer Chattanooga FC to victory and another trip to the NPSL National Semifinal!

Post by John Q. Chattanooga | Chattanooga FC
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