Chattanooga FC looks to remain unbeaten at home in league play when it hosts Carolina Core FC for the second Independent Derby of the 2024 season on Saturday, June 22nd at 7:00 p.m. ET at Finley Stadium.
Chattanooga Football Club's 4-1 defeat by Crown Legacy on May 15th feels like a long time ago. The club has responded to that setback on the road in Matthew, North Carolina by going four matches unbeaten, including, most recently, a shootout win on the road in Orlando.
CFC will look to remain unbeaten at home in league play in 2024 when it hosts to Carolina Core FC this Saturday, June 22nd at 7:00 p.m.
ET at Finley Stadium in the second Independent Derby of the season.
In the first encounter between the two unaffiliated clubs back on April 27th, CFC defeated CCFC 2-0 thanks to goals from Jesus Ibarra and Milo Garvanian in front of around 4,000 supporters at Fort Finley.
Sporting Director and Head Coach Rod Underwood previewed the second matchup of the season with Carolina Core.
"They have talent," said Underwood. "They're well coached. It was a hard start for them with a lot of games being on the road, so that's not an easy way to start off any season. You see what that does in any league when a team has to start on the road. They're a team that's improving and they'll be dangerous and difficult. I don't expect anything less than a difficult game on Saturday."
Underwood expanded on what the keys to victory will be on Saturday.
"We need to keep doing what we do. It's probably clear to everyone watching we want to possession and pressing team. Those core principles are things that we need to make sure that we get better at and to put guys in the right spots to make plays. If we do that, I think we'll be in good shape."
Carolina Core FC enters Matchweek 15 in last place in the Eastern Conference with eight points and a 1-7-3, 2SOW record. However, it's important to remember the club played its first eight league matches of the season on the road due to stadium renovations to Truist Park in its home of High Point, North Carolina.
The Foxes have dropped their first two matches at Truist Park against Huntsville City (4-1L) and FC Cincinnati 2 (3-1L).
Midfielder Jacob Evans leads the team with three goals, while midfielder Facundo Canete has provided the most assists for the Core with four on the season.
The Core are led by a plethora of experienced and distinguished former MLS and national team players. Head Coach Roy Lassiter held the single-season goalscoring record in MLS before it was broken in 2018. Assistant Coach Amado Guevara was a former Honduras national team captain. Head Scout and Assistant Coach Andy Williams was a star forward for multiple MLS clubs and won MLS Cup with Real Salt Lake in 2009. Goalkeeping Coach Donovan Ricketts was a two-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, while Chief Sporting Officer Eddie Pope is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame and is considered one of the best defenders in U.S. national team history.