CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (May 4, 2024) — Chattanooga Football Club beat Orlando City B 5-4 in the penalty shootout after the match ended 1-1 in regulation to take home two points and remain top of the Eastern Conference.
Mehdi Ouamri opened the scoring in the third minute with his second goal of the season. After patient build-up play, he timed his run and latched on to the end of a perfectly-weighted through ball from Jesus Ibarra and slotted past Orlando City B goalkeeper Javier Otero.
Orlando City B equalized minutes before half-time when Shakur Mohammed bundled one over the line after a scrappy battle for the ball in the penalty area.
There was no decisive goal in the second half, however CFC converted every spot-kick in the penalty shootout to take home the extra point and remain top of the Eastern Conference.
Sporting Director and Head Coach Rod Underwood made a pair of changes to the starting line-up from the club's 2-0 win over Carolina Core FC last weekend. Joseph Perez and Alex McGrath came in for Jesse Williams and Callum Watson.
Chattanooga FC will finish the day at the top of both the Eastern Conference and Southeast Division, and will now look forward to back-to-back Southeast Division matchups on the road at Inter Miami II on Friday, May 10th at 5:00 p.m. ET and at Crown Legacy FC on Wednesday, May 15th at 7:30 p.m. ET. Both matches will be streamed on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Chattanooga FC's next home match will be against Atlanta United 2 on Saturday, May 25th for the club's summer kick-off, which will include fireworks after the game! Tickets are on sale now.
Quotes
Sporting Director and Head Coach Rod Underwood gave his reaction to the shootout win.
"We created 21 chances, had 21 shots, so that's a lot," said Underwood. "We're happy with that. It was great to get the early goal. We were aggressive early. At the end of the day, we didn't lose. That's really important in this league as you can see the format.
"I only like it when we get the extra point (laughs). In terms of the functionality of it, you've got developmental and second-team players, these are all the elements they're trying to create to put young players in those pressure moments. In terms of the philosophy and idea behind the extra point shootout, it's good."
Underwood previewed expectations for the team's upcoming two-match road trip.
"It's an important time for us to do some bonding and some different things and go on the road. We go down to Miami and then up to Crown Legacy, who were very good last year. There could be some first-teamers from Miami that we face, so I'm expecting some difficult games."
Notes
- Chattanooga FC won the second consecutive penalty shootout to take place at Finley Stadium this season; the first came in the home opener on March 16th against Huntsville City
- Chattanooga FC has the best goal difference (9) in the entire league and has conceded the least goals (7) in the Eastern Conference
- Mehdi Ouamri scored his second goal of the season and Jesus Ibarra provided his first assist
Box Score:
Chattanooga FC (4W-1L-3D, 2SOW, 17 pts.) - Orlando City B (2W-2L-3D, 1SOW, 10 pts.)
Finley Stadium | Chattanooga, Tenn.
Final Score:
CFC: 1
ORL: 1
CFC wins 5-4 on penalties for the extra point
Scoring Summary:
CFC: Mehdi Ouamri 3'
ORL: Shakur Mohammed 39'
Discipline:
CFC: Jude Arthur (caution) 33'
ORL: Wilfredo Rivera (caution) 61'
CFC: Carlos Rivas (caution) 85'
ORL: Nabilai Kibunguchy (caution) 90'+3
Stats (CFC/ORL):
Possession: 55% / 45%
xG: 1.96 / 0.77
Shots: 25 / 7
Shots on goal: 9 / 4
Blocked shots: 11 / 3
Total passes: 435 / 341
Passing accuracy percentage: 88.5 / 88.9
Corners: 4 / 2
Total crosses: 4 / 7
Offsides: 3 / 4
Goalkeeper saves: 3 / 8
Clearances: 6 / 9
Fouls: 16 / 7
Line-ups:
CFC starters: Jean Antoine, Joseph Perez, Anatolie Prepelita, Duvan Viafara, Milo Garvanian, Jude Arthur, Andres Jimenez Aranzazu, Alex McGrath (C), Taylor Gray, Jesus Ibarra (Jalen James 67'), Mehdi Ouamri (Carlos Rivas 75')
Substitutes not used: Jonathan Burke, Farid Sar-Sar, Logan Brown, Robert Screen, Luis Garcia Sosa, Ethan Koren, Damian Rodriguez
Head Coach: Rod Underwood
ORL starters: Javier Ortero, Zakaria Taifi (Alexander Freeman 63'), Nabilai Kibunguchy, Thomas Williams, Manuel Cocca, Colin Guske, Jorge Almaguer, Wilfredo Rivera (Favian Loyola 63'), Jhon Solis, Yutaro Tsukada (Yeiler Stith Valencia Banguero 70'), Shakur Mohammed (Justin Ellis 83')
Substitutes not used: Diego Pareja, Abdi Salim, Thomas Bowe, Jose Carlos Mercado, Majed Abdullah
Head Coach: Manuel Goldberg
