Saturday night, the Chattanooga Football Club soccer players walked off the field after a game with a feeling they hadn't experienced in 2010 -- the feeling of a non-win.
The Chattanooga FC allowed a second-half goal by Atlanta FC's Dalibor Amanovic and had to settle for a 1-1 tie at Finley Stadium in a game in which the home team dominated possession. It completed a three-tie Father's Day Eve at Finley, following draws in the Tennessee-Georgia all-star games involving recent area high school graduates.
Chattanooga (4-0-1) outshot Atlanta 22-6 and had numerous opportunities in both halves of the National Premier Soccer League game, but after a Luis Salazar goal in the 22nd minute, the hosts couldn't get another shot past big Atlanta keeper Constant Mantey.
"We had a lot of chances to score," Salazar said. "We just couldn't get that last pass together to get that second goal."
Added coach Brian Crossman: "We created chances, but we have to convert. You have to finish opportunities, but we couldn't and kept them in the game. We had similar problems last year, but you have to give their keeper and backs credit. They were outstanding. You would think that having that many good opportunities, you would finish one."
In the first half, Ivan Heredia and Chris Ochieng had dangerous opportunities saved by Mantey and the Atlanta defense. Ochieng had a second-half breakaway but was caught from behind before getting a shot off.
Phil Beene and Russell Courtney also had second-half opportunities to score.
Atlanta had one big opportunity in each half. Chattanooga defender Mac Gambill had a non-keeper save on a cross attempt, but in the second half Amanovic slotted a shot past keeper Richard Masters to even the score.
It was only the third goal Chattanooga had allowed all season.
CHATTANOOGA FC 1, ATLANTA FC 1Halftime score: Chattanooga, 1-0. Goals: Luis Salazar (C); Dalibor Amanovic (A). Shots: Chattanooga, 22-6. Saves: Constant Mantey 7 (A); Richard Masters 4 (C). Records: Chattanooga 4-0-1; Atlanta 0-4-1.
"One of our goals has been to step to the ball," Crossman said. "We have great confidence in Richard that he can stop anything long-range.
"We had enough backs back there, but we just didn't support, and the guy had a great run and a great finish."
Chattanooga goes on the road next week to face Rocket City United in a game with first-place implications. Two of the CFC wins have been on the road this year -- at Atlanta and at Tulsa.
"We're going to have to be ready to go," Crossman said. "They have natural grass and it will be our first match on that this year. We like our turf but they have grass, so we'll prepare and be ready to go."