In a thrilling finale to Saturday’s match, Chattanooga FC salvaged a 1-1 draw against Club de Lyon thanks to a last-minute goal from Markus Naglestad, the club’s star striker. The late goal stirred the crowd of 2,611 at Finley Stadium, offering a sense of relief after a challenging game.
The encounter marked Chattanooga FC’s return to league play following a three-week hiatus. It also served as a rematch from the 2022 NISA Independent Cup, where Chattanooga edged out Club de Lyon in a tense 3-2 victory.
Shall we watch the @Naglestad10 90th equalizer again? pic.twitter.com/19YsAWX19F
— Chattanooga Football Club (@ChattanoogaFC) June 25, 2023
Club de Lyon arrived at Fort Finley better prepared this time, pressing high to contest Chattanooga’s possession-heavy approach. Despite initial struggles, Chattanooga adapted and started gaining ground. However, Club de Lyon’s strong defense rendered their efforts unfruitful for much of the game.
Following the match, Chattanooga FC Head Coach Rod Underwood remarked, “We were threatening but we weren’t dangerous,” pointing out the team’s inability to convert threats into scores.
NISA MATCH BROADCAST INFO:
2023 Regular Season, NISA League Play Match
Chattanooga FC vs Los Angeles Force
Date: July 1st | Time: 7:30pm EST
Location: Finley Stadium – Chattanooga, Tennessee
TV: ELEVEN Sports, FIFA+ | Radio: N/A
Announcers: Gabriel Schray, Zeca Ferraz
Adjustments in the second half saw Chattanooga FC adopting a direct style, leveraging long balls from their wingers. Despite their efforts, Club de Lyon scored first, with a mishandled free kick by Chattanooga FC’s goalkeeper Jean Antoine allowing a 63rd-minute goal.
“We were threatening but we weren’t dangerous,” said Rod Underwood
With fresh substitutes, Chattanooga FC mounted a comeback, but found themselves stifled by the opposition’s organized defense. The turning point came in the 90th minute, when Naglestad, the 2022 golden ball and golden boot recipient, scored the equalizing goal from a free kick.
WPSL MATCH BROADCAST INFO:
2023 Regular Season, WPSL League Play Match
Chattanooga FC vs Soda City FC
Date: July 1st | Time: 4:30pm EST
Location: Finley Stadium – Chattanooga, Tennessee
TV: ELEVEN Sports, FIFA+ | Radio: N/A
Announcers: Gabriel Schray
Reflecting on the goal, Naglestad said, “I thought it looked good coming off my foot, and I was hoping and praying that he wasn’t going to get there.” Antoine, despite his earlier mishap, had a chance to make amends with a critical save, ending the game at 1-1.
Post-match, Naglestad candidly spoke about the team’s performance, admitting, “It wasn’t a performance up to our standards. At home we want to win every game and I think we let ourselves down a bit today.”
“It wasn’t a performance up to our standards,” said Markus Naglestad
The draw keeps Chattanooga FC at the top of the NISA table with an eight-point lead. Their next match is scheduled for July 1 at Finley Stadium. The day will see a doubleheader as Chattanooga FC’s women’s side play against Soda City FC before the men’s team takes on LA Force.
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