Finlay leads CFC past Memphis City FC, 2-1

CFC's Jon Finlay celebrates scoring CFC's first goal during Chattanooga FC's soccer match against Memphis FC at Finley Stadium on Saturday, June 4, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
CFC's Jon Finlay celebrates scoring CFC's first goal during Chattanooga FC's soccer match against Memphis FC at Finley Stadium on Saturday, June 4, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The person of the match Saturday in the Chattanooga Football Club's 2-1 win over Memphis City FC never logged a second of playing time, therefore not being credited with any shots or saves.

He works for the Tennessee Valley Authority, carries a bullhorn and leads the Chattahooligans.

"Galen Riley has been going for four hours straight," CFC coach Bill Elliott said. "I don't have a single player that can go for four hours straight the way he does. It's unbelievable what he does, in a game like this when we've had all these games stacked on top of each other. They're tired, but he keeps the Chattahooligans going.

"No doubt. Man of the match, Galen."

Riley's match day started at 4:30 p.m. with the CFC women's match against the Gulf Coast Texans and continued through the men's match. Both ended with 2-1 scores in oppositive directions, with the latter benefiting the home team and improving CFC's record to 5-2 for the season and 3-0 in the Southeast Conference of the National Premier Soccer League for a total of nine points in league play.

The CFC men have yet another quick turnaround, hosting the Knoxville Force on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

Jon Finlay had a goal and an assist Saturday night for CFC, which had enough opportunities to make the match lopsided early on. There were a number of chances CFC just couldn't convert.

"The first half I think was the best half we played all season," Finlay said. "It should have been 3- or 4-0, but we did what we needed to do in the second half, went on and won the game."

Finlay's header of a Kieran Bywater corner kick in the seventh minute gave the home team a 1-0 edge, but Memphis tied the match 10 minutes later on a Santiago Moore goall when the CFC defense was unable to clear the ball out of the box. That gave the 21-year-old midfielder an opportunity that goalkeeper Greg Hartley got a hand on but couldn't stop.

Finlay then aided in what would be the game-winner in the 32nd minute, sending a nice cross to a wide-open Will Roberts, who rocketed a shot into the net for the 2-1 edge.

"This was all about points tonight," Elliott said. "I thought we played well in the first half and we could have possibly put another goal in but we didn't. All the games are catching up with us; we're tired and you could see it. They (Memphis) were applying a little bit of pressure, but I thought we dealt with it.

"There weren't too many scary moments - maybe one or two - but with all the games all we wanted was points and we got them, so that's the important thing."

Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.

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