Quinto Elemento player Guerrero Pino climbs onto CFC's John Davidson to head the ball during Chattanooga FC's Hank Steinbrecher Cup match against Quinto Elemento at Finley Stadium on Friday, May 27, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn.The Chattanooga Football Club will be playing two matches this week, both starting at 7:30 p.m. at Finley Stadium.
But the opposing teams will have a much different look.
Chattanooga FC hosts a friendly tonight against Middlesbrough FC (U21) from England and a National Premier Soccer League playoff semifinal Saturday against the Sonoma County Sol from California.
In CFC's July 14 friendly against the Tigres UANL reserves, coach Bill Elliott didn't play anyone he planned to start in the team's playoff match two nights later. The organization has created enough depth to be able to field quality players waiting in the wings, and that friendly wound up a 1-all tie after CFC led for almost the entire match.
Middlesbrough will present a much different challenge. The U21s edged the Atlanta Silverbacks 2-1 on Saturday, but the club is much more well-known for its top-level team's English Premier League success, winning the 2004 title and being one of the more storied franchises in the world.
Elliott said last Saturday that he expects tonight's international friendly to be a "good, brilliant" reserve match. As for the Sol, they were ranked 20th in the league entering the playoffs but defeated the eighth-ranked Albion SC Pros last week to earn their spot in this Saturday's game.
CFC and Sonoma County are two of the most consistently successful programs in the NPSL, with seven finals appearances between them. The Sol won the championship in 2009; CFC is still looking for its first title.
But last Saturday, Elliott's primary focus was enjoying a shootout victory over third-ranked Miami United.
"It doesn't matter how you advance," he said. "It just matters that you advance."
In appreciation for surpassing the 10,000 attendance goal last Saturday, CFC has lowered tickets for tonight's match to $5, with a $7 refund due anyone who already has bought one. And tickets for Saturday will be just $7 online before midnight tonight. That price will rise to $10 Thursday and Friday and $12 Saturday.
Also, men's and women's 2016 season-pass jerseys will get fans into both games this week. Anyone with one of those who already bought a ticket for tonight will get a $12 refund, CFC promises.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.