After securing a 1-0 win on the road in their first-ever playoff match, newcomers CT United FC continue their quest for the MLS NEXT Pro Cup title as they enter the Eastern Conference Semifinal. Catch up on everything you need to know before CT returns to action.
Opponent: Chattanooga FC
Date: Sunday, October 25th
Time: 5:00 PM ET
Venue: Finley Stadium, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Broadcast: The Wax, OneFootball TV, & MLS YouTube Channel
Weather: Sunday looks to be a pleasant evening in Chattanooga. Temps kick off in the low 70s and remain in the upper 60s throughout the evening.
CT United FC:
2026 has been a dream start for the MLS NEXT Pro newcomers, who made their first postseason appearance after finishing seventh with 46 points on a 14-12-2 record with two shootout victories.
Hungarian forward Barnabas Tanyi has been a big source of success for CT in its first season. Tanyi finished third in the Golden Boot race with 16 goals in 26 appearances. The forward’s talents prevailed in CT’s inaugural playoff match as he scored the first playoff goal in club history and the eventual game-winner in the fifth minute.
Goalkeeper Gunther Rankenburg also put on a good display in the victory. His two saves led to his fourth clean sheet with the club and secured CT a spot in the next round.
While last week’s playoff win was mostly positive, a big question mark surrounds the status of defender Andre Applewhaite. The Barbados international suffered a slight knock while trying to clear the ball in the win over Atlanta, forcing him to exit the match in the 69th minute.
While being on the road can be a daunting task for some clubs, that has not been the case for CT, who enter Sunday’s contest with eight wins on the road across the regular season and playoffs.
Chattanooga FC:
2026 was an incredible season for Richard Dixon and his Chattanooga side, who finished the regular season second with 56 points on a 15-6-7 record and four shootout victories.
Following the regular season, Chattanooga got things started by welcoming New York City FC II to town. Despite having Alex Krehl’s opener cancelled out by Jacob Arroyave’s 53rd-minute leveler, strikes from Anton Sorenson in the 86th minute and Yuval Cohen in the seventh minute of stoppage time led to the home side advancing after a 3-1 victory.
Forward Alex Krehl has been a major factor in Chattanooga’s success this season as the 23-year-old finished second in the Golden Boot race after netting 18 goals in 27 appearances for the independent side.
Defender Tate Robinson was another force for Chattanooga as he ended the regular season with eight goals and nine assists in 28 appearances.
Midfielder Damien Baker John also had a good offensive season, ending the year with eight goals and two assists in 26 appearances.
Looking at the stats, it's clear why Chattanooga was so successful in 2026. The club ranked first in shots on target per match (5.8), fourth in big chances (99), first in accurate long balls per match (35.2), sixth in touches in the opposing box (767), and tied for sixth in goals per match (2), fifth in goals conceded per match (1.4), and fifth in clean sheets (8).
Previous Meetings:
Sunday will mark the second all-time meeting between Connecticut and Chattanooga.
Their first meeting occurred at Finley Stadium on March 8. Despite goals from Ibrahim Kasule and Dylan Lacy, they were no match for Chattanooga, who scored four of their own to secure all three points at home.
