All it was going to take was one - a big shot or a big save - Saturday evening.
Greg Hartley gave the Chattanooga Football Club one of each.
Hartley saved a shot in the shootout, then followed that up shortly after with the final penalty kick to give CFC a 5-3 shootout triumph over Miami United FC in the National Premier Soccer League South regional final in front of 10,104 fans at Finley Stadium.
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You can view Periscope videos from the shootout and celebration here.
The match was scoreless after 120 minutes of regulation and extra time, but CFC (14-2-3) advances to the national semifinals next Saturday at "Fort Finley." CFC will face the winner of the West regional final between the Albion SC Pros and Sonoma County Sol.
Miami United played with 10 players after a red card was issued early in the second half, and as a result played for a shootout. The visitors slowed the pace and took every opportunity they could to throw off the rhythm of the Southeast Conference champions.
They got their wish, eventually getting to the shootout despite CFC having numerous opportunities to score, including a missed penalty kick by Kieran Bywater at the end of the first overtime that would have given the home team a 1-0 lead.
Miami nearly scored in the second overtime, with forward Juan Bazan Riascos hitting a shot that hit the bottom of the crossbar and angled directly downward.
In the shootout, CFC went 5-for-5, with Jose Ferraz, Sindre Welo, Will Roberts, Jon Finlay and Hartley connecting on shots. Hartley also stopped a shot in the second pair of kicks.
"Our message was to keep attacking and don't panic," CFC coach Bill Elliott said. "At the end of the day we know we've got Greg, so we couldn't panic, get caught up in the delay and the tactics, but it was tough. We had a big crowd; it was an emotional night, a big challenge to keep our composure."
The composure was tested throughout the match as well as after, as a member of the physical Miami club threw a punch at a CFC player shortly after Hartley's clinching kick. Officials from both clubs and Chattanooga police officers broke up the melee before it got too out of hand.
It was Hartley's first shootout of the season. He was absent when CFC defeated Reading United AC in the U.S. Open Cup second round, with Tom Halsall being credited with that win.
"I had a dream earlier this week that this would be the shootout we finally lose, because we've won so many," Hartley said. "We didn't save as many as I thought we would, but credit the guys. Credit to Miami, they can play, but we worked hard.
"We looked a little tired, but the subs came on and did unbelievable. I'm happy we've won; it's a great feeling."
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.