Chattanooga FC Women returned home after a successful away trip to face off against UFA Gunners for the first time in the WPSL. The Sunday night game saw both offenses threaten and capitalize, but the Gunners took the three points with a final score of 6-2.
CFCW’s Eleonora Franco opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a beautifully curled strike into the top corner. It was the Italian's second goal on the season. However, UFA responded with an immediate equalizer after a well-orchestrated team move.
The Gunners finished the half strongly with three goals in quick succession in the 39th, 41st minutes and in stoppage time.
The Sky Blues had a headed chance late in the half that nearly levelled matters, however it was UFA with a three-goal cushion at the break.
Coming out of the half, CFC held strong after waves of Gunners attacks, and their strength in the back paid off. In the 59th minute, Janne Van Brummelen scored a free-kick after a foul on Annalisa Vincent to cut the deficit to 4-2. It was Van Brummelen’s second free-kick goal in as many games.
In the final 20 minutes of the game, both sides fought for more, but it was UFA who made their chances count in the 73rd and 78th minutes. CFCW had chances, including shots hitting the post and being saved off the line, but couldn’t get level.
Halfway through the season CFCW sits mid-table and faces Georgia Impact away at Cherokee High School in Canton, Georgia on Friday, June 21 at 6:00 p.m. ET, to fight for a top-five spot in the WPSL Southeast Conference.
Chattanooga FC Women will then look forward to a quick turnaround and another home match at Finley Stadium against Decatur FC on Sunday, June 23rd at 6:00 p.m. ET.
While disappointed in the result, Head Coach Tom Halsall noted some positives to take from the contest, specifically with more CFC Academy players getting competitive minutes.
"It's great," Halsall said. "That's what makes all of this really awesome and all worth it. It's seeing the light on their faces when they get called to walk on. There was a buzz on Ryleigh Ramey's face when she was brought on. That's fantastic. It's a good message to other young players in the Academy that there's a pathway. It's doable if you put the work in and if you do all the right things well and often. We're a club that wants to give back to the players that are giving to the club. I'm really happy for them, and what's even better is them making an impact."
"They were beautiful," Halsall said about the two goals. "That's what's really frustrating. We're showing so many glimpses of the potential we have. We're just not able to put the nail in the coffin and we're allowing teams to get back in. The techincal ability from both Eleonora and Janne tonight was top drawer. We need more. We need players all over the field to be able to score. We need to take advantage of set pieces and other chances we get. We're not ruthless enough and that's disappointing. But it doesn't mean that will be the final chapter of the story."