Sacramento Gold and Chattanooga FC will square off for the 2010 National Premier Soccer League Championship as they won their respective NPSL Semifinal matches on Thursday night.

There is good soccer, great soccer, and beautiful soccer. Chattanooga FC and Madison 56ers added another level beyond beautiful as they entertained the crowd with a spectacular match won by Chattanooga FC 2-0 in the NPSL Semifinal nightcap.

Chattanooga struck in the 51st minute when Thomas Clark headed a corner kick back across the goal and into the net.

CFC sealed the deal in on 85 minutes when Sasha Viatrov broke down the left wing and played a perfect pass into the six to a streaking Robbie Hill. Hill was able to slide and knock the ball back across frame to give CFC a 2-0 lead.

"Our bench has been significant all year." said Brian Crossman. "Our center back [Clark] who replaced our injured captain got the first goal. Our second goal was off of one of our substitutes as well."

Madison 56ers Jon Szafranski may have been on the losing squad on the night, but he was brilliant in goal for Madison.

The former St. Mary’s University standout shined as he denied Luis Salazar from point blank range in the second half and made a key diving save to keep the game in reach for the 56ers.

It was Madison who had the momentum early on, forcing Richard Masters into action on 15 minutes. Henry Aiyenero found himself open 16 yards out and his shot was denied by Masters.

In the 25th minute Chattanooga FC got their first opportunity when Irvin espinal found Luis Salazar for a diving header which went just over the bar.

Soon after it was Salazar again who found himself on the end of a Drew Courtney cross 10 yards from goal. Salazar’s header was wide but a streaking CFC winger played the ball back to Salazar who volleyed over the net from six yards out.

Chattanooga looked the better team in the second half, attacking out wide and testing Szafranski with several dangerous crosses. He was equal to the task, stopping Espinal and Salazar to keep the match even.

It was Clark who broke the deadlock in the 51st on a pinpoint corner to the far post. Clark headed the ball into the ground and it bounced between Szafranski and the covering defender.

Madison could not find their offensive stride in the second half.

"Right at the end we were pushing forward quite a bit." said Madison 56ers Head Coach Jim Launder. "We had a spell of possession before their second goal but couldn’t make anything out of it. They picked off a cross and boom they are running at us for a second goal."

CFC GK Masters protected the lead to the delight of the Chattanooga FC traveling fans, who applauded the Englishman with his namesake chant. What chances Madison could muster were diffused by Masters who was equal to Szafranski’s effort in goal.
CFC head home to rest tomorrow, but will return for the biggest game in their history against the Sacramento Gold on Saturday.

"These guys [CFC] are competitors." said Crossman. "Whatever the challenge, these guys have stepped up and met it."

Chattanooga FC 0 2 - 2
Madison 56ers 0 0 - 0

Chattanooga FC - Thomas Clark 51
Chattanooga FC - Robbie Hill (Sasha Viatrov)