2026 US Open Cup Round 3: Atlanta United take step toward “big reward”, oust Chattanooga FC

Atlanta United took care of business with a 3-1 win over MLS NEXT Pro neighbors Chattanooga FC on Wednesday night. Goals from Cayman Togashi, Fabrice Picault, and Pedro Santos Amador overcame Yves Tcheuyap’s early Chattanooga opener to help the Five Stripes advance to the Round of 16.

The two teams had met once before in the Open Cup, with Atlanta winning 6-0 at home in the 2022 edition of the tournament. Atlanta had visited Chattanooga three times before for preseason friendlies, including their first ever match, but history was in the making as Chattanooga FC hosted an MLS side competitively for the first time in the club’s history.

With nothing to lose, Richard Dixon sent out his Chattanooga squad in his now infamous 4-2-4 formation, fearlessly attacking the top tier visitors early on.

“In the first few minutes, we knew they were going to be opportunities for us to get in behind their back line, so we wanted to exploit that as early and as often as possible.”

Ambition paid dividends early on for Chattanooga. In the sixth minute, Tate Robertson’s long ball from the back found the run of Yves Tcheuyap. With the Atlanta defenders beat for pace, Tcheuyap gave the goalkeeper no chance with a deft finish into the top right of the goal. The hosts were up 1-0, scoring their first competitive goal against an MLS side.

Visiting Atlanta United was seemingly unphased from conceding so early. The first division side took control of the game, slowly finding and exposing the gaps in the Chattanooga defense. Early warning signs began in the 16^th minute when Cayman Togashi’s open header fortuitously fell straight to Chattanooga keeper Eldin Jakupovic, but the chances for Atlanta continued to pile on.

Atlanta finally found their breakthrough in the 21^st minute. After creating chance after chance swinging in crosses behind Chattanooga’s defense, Ajani Fortune’s cross found the sliding figure of Cayman Togashi for a back post tap in. The visitors were deservingly level.

Chattanooga’s Barker John forced a save at the other end just a minute later, but soon it was Atlanta once again controlling proceedings, now probing for the go-ahead goal. Ronald Hernandez’s stoppage time shot rattled the Chattanooga post, but the two teams entered the break on level terms.

Atlanta made two important halftime substitutions, bringing on Miguel Almiron and Cooper Sanchez. Almiron particularly brought an extra spark that gave the Chattanooga defense trouble.

It was Almiron’s run in behind that unlocked the home defense for Atlanta’s second goal in the 64^th minute. After finding space on the right, Almiron cut back and passed to Togashi. Togashi’s shot was blocked, but the deflection fell kindly to Fabrice Picault, who had little work to do at the back post to put Atlanta ahead.

“I saw Miggy making the run and I didn’t know if he was going to play it one-time right foot, but he did a good job cutting it back,” Picault recalled after the game. “I found myself there , like a lot of times it happens.”

The visitors doubled their lead in the 75^th minute. Once again finding success on the cutback, Luke Brennan’s cross found Pedro Santos Amador, whose deflected shot wrong-footed Jakupovic in goal and nestled into the bottom left corner.

With a few moments of tension and yellow cards issued, Atlanta largely controlled the remainder of the match, reaching the full-time whistle with a 3-1 scoreline.

“This tournament has a big reward,” Atlanta head coach Tata Martino said after the game. “We know that whether it’s teams from the same level or different levels, every game is important. Every game is a good opportunity for us and a good experience.”

Atlanta United’s next experience in the Open Cup will be a trip to Charlotte FC, who ran riot in their simultaneous match with a 6-0 win over 10-man Charlotte Independence.