For the first time in club history, Miami United FC have claimed their first upset of a professional team. The amateur side from the United States Soccer League traveled north to Tennessee to edge Chattanooga FC of MLS NEXT Pro 1-0 in the opening round of the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on Tuesday night.
With cold temperatures settling over the Tennessee Valley, there could be only one thing that would make for a grueling evening for the so-called “Chattahooligan” faithful: a stonewall defense by Miami.
The wing backs and defenders of Miami forced opportunities by Chattanooga to be few and far between, with most chances coming within the final minutes as desperation settled in. The defense — two defenders with an assisting midfield defender and two wingbacks — was all a part of Miami head coach Claudio Frean’s plan.
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“We saw a lot of games of Chattanooga FC where they liked to go through their wings, so we focused all week on closing out the backdoor,” Frean said. “We just closed the circuit. They could not come forward.”
Frean’s plan frustrated the likes of Chattanooga FC’s Milo Garvanian, whose runs would be countered by two defenders clamping down or offside traps by the aggressive defense.
As the Chattanooga offense struggled to poke through the defense, Miami seized the early opportunities to generate an early lead. Following a couple of shots, Miami was awarded a free kick in the 12th minute.
Miami’s Jhon Pajoy stepped up for the free kick and, from what seemed like a quarter-mile out, rocketed off a shot with his left foot. The ball, springing above the ball and descending like a knuckleball, framed itself in the upper-left corner of the net.
Great goalkeeping by Chattanooga’s Jonathan Burke was met with a jaw-dropping strike and Pajoy winning the battle for his first career US Open Cup goal.
Miami played like they had a cushion for the rest of the match by relying on their steadfast defense.
The defense could be best described as a python — constricting upon any threat. With no ability to advance the ball, Chattanooga was forced to play out the back of their two defenders. Thus, beginning the long, dreadful spiral of an offense — like watching a trainwreck unfold.
“When they passed to their wingers, we pressured them into passing to their center (defenders),” Frean said. “We had to be smart. Instead of playing their game, we went out and won it.”
With the win, Miami advances to the Second Round for the first time since 2022.