CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (SESN) — Chattanooga FC is set to host Toronto FC II for the first time in a regular-season professional match this Saturday, August 3rd, at Finley Stadium. The match kicks off at 7 p.m. ET and will be available globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Chattanooga FC, led by Sporting Director and Head Coach Rod Underwood, looks to build on last weekend’s 1-0 victory over Orlando City B. Captain Alex McGrath’s match-winning goal helped snap a four-match losing streak, bringing a much-needed morale boost to the team. “There’s been improvement every game. The big thing was we kept the clean sheet and one goal won the game. The lads did a good job defensively, and that’s what we’ve been working on. It was a big step forward in terms of working as a unit,” McGrath said post-match.
Chattanooga FC vs. Toronto FC II
Finley Stadium – Chattanooga, Tennessee
Saturday, August 3rd, 2024 – 7:03 p.m. ET
Chattanooga’s defense will need to maintain its recent form against a Toronto FC II side that is fresh off a thrilling 4-3 win over New York Red Bulls II. Toronto’s Hassan Ayari scored twice, showcasing his scoring prowess. The team is currently 12th in the Eastern Conference with 21 points from 17 matches and a 6-8-3 record.
Underwood previewed the upcoming clash, emphasizing the importance of controlling the game’s tempo. “We haven’t seen Toronto yet, and there’s a lot of studying going into this one. There’s no bad team in the league. Toronto’s been really competitive over the last few games, so we know we’re in for a huge, difficult match,” Underwood said.
Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
TV Talent (English): Justin Gallanty (play-by-play)
Radio: The Chattanooga Kickoff Radio Network
Radio Talent: Gabriel Schray (play-by-play)
Toronto FC II, led by Head Coach Gianni Cimini, typically plays a 3-4-3 formation. They have been resilient and hardworking, evident in their recent matches. Captain Julian Altobelli and Ayari are key players, with Altobelli recently moving into third place in the club’s all-time goalscorers list.
Statistically, Chattanooga has the edge in offensive metrics with 30 goals scored compared to Toronto’s 23. However, Toronto has conceded more goals (32) than Chattanooga (26), which could be a deciding factor. Chattanooga has also shown a strong passing game, completing 8,846 passes from open play, significantly more than Toronto’s 7,347.
Chattanooga FC fans will be hoping for another strong performance from McGrath and the defensive unit as they seek to climb the standings. Meanwhile, Toronto FC II aims to continue their momentum and secure a vital away victory.
Hassan Ayari scored a brace in the last match. Julian Altobelli scored and assisted in the last game, moving to third in the club’s all-time goalscorers list. Lucas Olguin recorded two assists in the previous match. Toronto FC II has scored 23 goals this season, reflecting a decent offensive output.
Chattanooga has completed 8,846 passes from open play, as the numbers show, their focus is on a possession-based style. Chattanooga’s substitutes have contributed 5 goals this season, as Coach Rod Underwood has built a full roster approach that focuses on controlling the game tempo and dictating play. Chattanooga’s recent emphasis has been on defensive organization and working as a unit.
Fans interested in attending can purchase tickets online. A free radio broadcast will also be provided for fans to listen to radio play-by-play coverage of the match in realtime.
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