Chattanooga FC’s Luke Winter, right, and Sacramento keeper John Connolly watch as Winter’s shot goes in for CFC’s first goal.
The Chattanooligans cheer during CFC’s National Premiere Soccer League semifinal match against Sacramento Gold FC on Saturday at Finley Stadium. CFC won 4-1.
Chattanooga FC players celebrate their third goal during CFC’s National Premiere Soccer League semifinal match against Sacramento Gold FC on Saturday at Finley Stadium. CFC won 4-1.One trend was going to be bucked when the Chattanooga Football Club faced Sacramento Gold FC in the semifinals of the National Premier Soccer League playoffs.
Saturday night, it was the one that favored Chattanooga.
CFC scored a pair of first-half goals, and was able to hold off the Gold 4-1 in front of 8,878 fans at Finley Stadium. The win secures Chattanooga (13-2-2) a spot in the NPSL national final to be played at a site and time to be determined.
The other semifinal between the New York Red Bulls U-23 squad and Lansing United will be played today in New York.
In program history, CFC was 2-0 in national semifinal matches, with wins in 2010 and 2012. They had only faced Sacramento once before, and fell 3-1 in the 2010 championship.