Getting more exposure in the attack for the Chattanooga Football Club, Daniel Valenciano unloaded a strike from 30 yards out that Stumptown Athletic goalkeeper Vincent Tasca barely deflected from going in the back left of the net.
Near misses were the story of Saturday night’s cold and rainy exhibition match for Chattanooga FC, which outshot its future National Independent Soccer Association opponent 16-4 in Finley Stadium but managed only a scoreless draw against the visitors.
“We used Danny as one of the two attacking midfielders, and he looked good,” acting head coach Peter Fuller said. “We are not a team that tends to compete in the 18-yard box, and we don’t have a guy that will run through a guy or the goal post. But Danny has that ability, and it was good to see him do some of that higher up the pitch.”
CFC could not buy breaks at all. As one example, Juan Sanchez sent a free kick off the right post that was rebounded by Max Wilschrey, whose strong header was cleared away in the 34th minute.
A misplayed pass in the midfield nearly cost the home team as Stumptown’s Donald Benamna intercepted it and drilled a shot off the crossbar in a one-on-one matchup in the 74th minute.