CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Chattanooga FC has a playoff win in MLS Next Pro for the first time. The Boys in Blue beat NYCFC II 3-1 at home in Chattanooga on Sunday, using two late goals off the bench to book a spot in next Sunday’s Eastern Conference semifinals.
Alex Krehl put the hosts in front in the 31st minute. Daniel Mangarov whipped in a corner and Krehl got his head to it, his 19th goal of the season. The first-round knockout match was listed as a round of 16 tie in the league’s postseason bracket.
New York’s reserve side pulled level soon after halftime. Jacob Arroyave pounced on a loose back pass in the Chattanooga defense and finished with his left foot to make it 1-1.
The game stayed tied until the closing minutes, when coach Richard Dixon’s changes paid off. Substitute Anthony Garcia cut the ball back for fellow sub Sorenson, whose left-footed strike in the 86th minute restored the lead.
The visitors pushed everyone forward for one last corner in stoppage time, even goalkeeper Mac Learned. Chattanooga cleared, and substitute Yuval Cohen raced away on a breakaway into an empty half and buried a right-footed finish to seal the 3-1 result.
Dixon said afterward that he was very proud of his players. He pointed out that the lone goal Chattanooga allowed came from its own error and credited the substitutes with changing the match, calling the squad resilient all season. Krehl said scoring means a lot to him but that the team result mattered most, and that the club will take the rest of the playoffs one game at a time.
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