Sometimes a team's effort does not translate to the scoreboard. That was the case for the Chattanooga Football Club Tuesday night in a 2-1 loss to the Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves at Finley Stadium.
After a brief lightning delay, CFC led a furious second-half charge to erase a halftime deficit but could not convert its chances.
"We performed well enough to win, and this is kind of the first time all season we've had a problem putting those chances away," CFC coach Bill Elliott said. "I think we rushed our chances instead of relaxing, which is surprising."
CFC got on the board first with an early goal in the first half. Leo DeSmedt sent a hard, low cross in front of the net, forcing the keeper to dive - which left Chris Ochieng with a free look at the goal in the 17th minute.
A dangerous chance to double the lead arose in the 33rd minute, but the Silverbacks defended well and started a counter attack.
Janny Rivera trailed the play and received a pass at the top of the box that he rocketed off the far post for the equalizer.
Riley Sumpter stunned the crowd of 2,119 when he gave the Silverbacks a lead in the 42nd minute with a diving header. Atlanta took its 2-1 edge into the locker room at halftime.
"We got back to our winning ways tonight and gave a good fight," CFC midfielder Luis Trude said. "Unfortunately, the result just didn't show our effort."
CFC limited Atlanta's chances in the second half, holding possession and creating danger in the box. One of the best looks came as Ochieng sailed an open shot high near the penalty spot in the 72nd minute.
DeSmedt then lofted a brilliant cross into the box in the 80th minute, but the header on the other end went wide.
"We usually put away those chances, but we didn't tonight," Elliott said.
CFC will look to rebound Saturday against Nashville FC and will be back at Finley Stadium against the Knoxville Force on June 27.
"We feel like we didn't play well against Knoxville," Trude said of his team's June 13 draw against the Force. "We will keep working hard and fighting for each other. We have to trust we are doing the right thing and keep our composure in front of the net."