For the first time in two months, the surroundings won’t be familiar for the Chattanooga Football Club men’s soccer players. They won’t be able to look behind the visitors’ bench at Finley Stadium and see the crazy Chattahooligans fan section cheering them on.
But when they take the field tonight, the mission will be the same as it has been every other match — to win.
Except a victory tonight would mean more than any other in club history.
Chattanooga FC will take the pitch at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., in the National Premier Soccer League championship match against the top-ranked New York Red Bulls U-23 squad. The Red Bulls’ Major League Soccer club will face the New England Revolution at 7.
There will be some familiar, friendly faces at the arena for the second-ranked Chattanooga club, though. Two fan buses are leaving at 7 a.m., and a number of other local fans have made it known that they will be attending as well.