Chattanooga FC booked a place in the US Open Cup Round of 32 with a 1-0 victory over visiting Tennessee Tempo. A header from Nathan Koelher was all that would split the two I-24 sides in the Second Round.
UPSL’s Tennessee Tempo entered the match with optimism and bravado after defeating USL League 1’s Chattanooga Red Wolves in the first round. Chattanooga FC advanced past Tempo’s UPSL counterpart, Kalonji Pro-Profile, with a 2-1 victory at Finley Stadium. Both teams knew they were 90 minutes away from facing an MLS side in the next round.
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Hosts Chattanooga FC largely bossed proceedings in the first half, finding early success in attack.
The first big chance of the day fell to Chattanooga’s Daniel Mangarov in less than two minutes. After seeing his initial shot ricochet off a teammate from eight yards out, his follow-up shot grazed the outside of the Tempo post.
Tempo’s goalkeeper Francois Djiba was called into action in the 17th minute as he denied Keegan Ancelin’s low shot from opening the scoring.
Chattanooga continued to test the Tempo defense throughout the half and finally made a breakthrough in the 44th minute. Daniel Mangarov’s perfectly placed corner found the head of defender Nathan Koehler, who nodded over past the floundering keeper to put Chattanooga ahead.
“Those are my favorite kind of goals to score,” Koehler reflected after the game. “Not the prettiest, I don’t take on 15 people and stick it in the top corner. Danny’s played a perfect ball right into that corridor of uncertainty between where the keeper wants to come out or stay on his line. I’ve seen him kind of half go, and I had a run on my man, and he made it really simple for me.”
The hosts continued to press for another goal, even testing Djiba in goal again before halftime.
With a one goal advantage in the second half, Chattanooga continued to push for a second. Chance after chance was blocked or sent wide. Keegan Ancelin even struck the crossbar in the 79th minute, but a second goal was not forthcoming.
The visitors fought back and created a clear chance to equalize late in the second half. An 84th minute cutback found Kwadwo Puko, who fired a first time shot from 12 yards out. Finally called into action, Chattanooga’s Griffin Huff made a strong save in goal, preserving the lead.
After ninety hard fought minutes, Chattanooga triumphed, continuing as the lone MLS Next Pro club remaining in the competition.
“We move on, we advance, and that for us was the end goal,” head coach Richard Dixon stated after the game. “We’re super excited for the club and for the guys to move on to the next round to play an opponent from a higher division.”
Chattanooga FC will find out who that MLS opponent will be Thursday morning as the next two rounds are drawn. (UPDATE: Chattanooga FC will host Atlanta United FC of MLS in Round 3)