QUEENS, N.Y. (March 27, 2024) — Chattanooga FC remains unbeaten in the league after a 1-1 draw with NYCFC II in the club's first-ever away match at Belson Stadium in Queens, New York on Wednesday evening.
NYCFC II took home the extra point after winning the penalty shootout 4-2.
Taylor Gray opened the scoring in the eight minute with a header after New York keeper Alex Rando made an initial save, but Gray headed in from close range to nod CFC in the lead.
Jonathan Shore equalized for NYCFC II ten minutes into the second half to ultimately see the sides share the spoils.
"For us, it's a good start," said Sporting Director and Head Coach Rod Underwood. "Would we like max points? We would. It's been a fast start for us, too, with an Open Cup game in there. We've had a lot of guys on minute restrictions, whether it be because they just got in the country or are coming off an injury.
"We're nowhere near where we need to be, but to go on our first road game, get something out of it—we expected more—especially the way we started the game, but I'm not going to discredit what they [NYCFC II] did to put themselves in a situation to get to penalties. All respect to them."
Chattanooga sits in second place in the Eastern Conference and first in the Southeast Division.
After a busy March, Chattanooga FC will now have over two weeks until its next match at home to Inter Miami CF II on Saturday, April 13 at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Notes:
- After winning Matchweek 2's Goal of the Week, Jesus Ibarra started his first MLS NEXT Pro match
- Jesse Williams returned to the starting XI after being away with the Trinidad and Tobago national team
- Andres Jimenez Aranzazu, Alex McGrath and Luis Garcia Sosa started in the midfield together for the third consecutive MLS NEXT Pro match
- Taylor Gray scored his second goal of the season
- Chattanooga FC has scored the first goal in each of its first three matches in MLS NEXT Pro
Box Score:
NYCFC II (0W-1L-1D, 1SOW, 2 pts.) 1-1 Chattanooga FC (1W-0L-2D, 1SOW, 6 pts.)
Belson Stadium | Queens, N.Y.
Final Score:
NYC: 1
CFC: 1
Scoring Summary:
CFC: Taylor Gray 8'
NYC: Jonathan Shore 55'
Discipline:
CFC – Jesse Williams (Yellow card) 23'
NYC – Piero Elias (Yellow card) 39'
CFC – Andres Jimenez Aranzazu (Yellow card) 64'
CFC – Anatolie Prepelita (Yellow card) 81'
NYC – Christopher TianLong Tiao (Yellow card) 86'
NYC – Klevis Haxhari (Yellow card) 90'+3
Stats (NYC/CFC):
Shots: 19 / 10
Shots on Goal: 6 / 5
Goalkeeper Saves: 4 / 5
Total Passes: 464 / 523
Corner Kicks: 6 / 0
Fouls: 17 / 17
Offsides: 0 / 3
Line-ups:
CFC: Jon Burke, Jesse Williams (Joseph Perez 64'), Duvan Viafara, Anatolie Prepelita, Milo Garvanian, Luis Garcia Sosa (Callum Watson 76’), Andres Jimenez Aranzazu, Alex McGrath, Taylor Gray, Mehdi Ouamri (Carlos Rivas 76’), Jesus Ibarra (Jalen James 77’)
Substitutes not used: Jean Antoine, Farid Sar-Sar, Ethan Koren
Head Coach: Rod Underwood
NYC: Alex Rando, Andrew Baiera, Klevis Haxhari, Alex Hauschild, Christopher TianLong Tiao, Piero Elias, Jacob Arroyave, Jonathan Shore, Maximo Carrizo, Taylor Calheira, Jonathan Jimenez (Ronald Arevalo 89')
Substitutes not used: Steven Bednarsky, Kofi Hope-Gund, Alexander Yagudayev, Matthew Leong, Adam Basse, David Duque
Head Coach: Matthew Pilkington
Officials:
Referee: Joshua Encarnacion
Ast. Referees: Tom Felice, Alexandru Focea
Fourth Official: Kenneth Rojas
