Chattanooga — Chattanooga FC stretched its unbeaten streak to 11 matches in the MLS NEXT Pro era Friday night, salvaging a 2-2 draw at York Lions Stadium in Toronto after rallying from an early deficit.
Comeback effort, late drama
The match opened with the hosts taking an early lead when Jahmarie Nolan scored in the 11th minute. Chattanooga evened the game 12 minutes later when Alex Krehl, who continues to lead the club’s scoring charge, headed home a Daniel Mangarov cross to make it 1-1.
Chattanooga took the lead again in the 82nd minute when Farid Sar-Sar connected with a pinpoint Luke Husakiwsky cross to head home his second goal of the season. The late lead, however, did not hold; Toronto FC II found an equalizer in the final action of stoppage time, sending the match to a shootout to determine the team that would pick up an extra point in league standings.
“The boys showed resilience to come back and take the lead late,” said a team spokesperson. “We continue to build momentum as the push to the playoffs heats up.”
In the ensuing shootout, Toronto FC II prevailed, winning 5-4, depriving Chattanooga of the extra point while the teams split the regulation points.
Individual milestones and lineup notes
Alex Krehl’s goal was his 14th of the season, moving him within one of Atlanta United 2’s Arif Kovac, who leads the MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot race with 15. Krehl’s tally further cements him as a central figure in Chattanooga’s attack this season.
Daniel Mangarov’s cross that led to the equalizer also marked his seventh assist across all competitions, underscoring his creative influence on the flank. Luke Husakiwsky recorded his first assist of the season on Sar-Sar’s header.
Alexis Arrúa made his first MLS NEXT Pro start for Chattanooga during the match, a lineup development that could factor into the club’s rotation options as the season approaches its decisive stages.
Standings and next steps
The result preserved Chattanooga FC’s position near the top of the Eastern Conference, with the team listed in second place after the draw. The unbeaten run — a club record since joining MLS NEXT Pro — keeps momentum positive as the season moves toward the playoff push.
- Result: 2-2 draw (Toronto FC II won shootout 5-4)
- Scorers for Chattanooga: Alex Krehl (14), Farid Sar-Sar (2)
- Notable assists: Daniel Mangarov (7th across competitions), Luke Husakiwsky (1st of season)
| Event | Minute | Player |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto lead | 11 | Jahmarie Nolan |
| Chattanooga equalizer | 23 | Alex Krehl (header) |
| Chattanooga go-ahead | 82 | Farid Sar-Sar (header) |
| Toronto equalizer | Stoppage time | — |
Chattanooga will turn its attention to a marquee Eastern Conference matchup next: a trip to face Crown Legacy FC on Sunday, Aug. 23, in Matthews, North Carolina. That fixture pits two of the conference’s higher-ranked teams against each other and could have notable implications for seeding as the league moves deeper into the schedule.
Following the Crown Legacy trip, Chattanooga returns to Fort Finley Park for what the club bills as the Push to the Playoffs presented by Ruby Falls — the final Battle of the Independents of the year against Carolina Core FC on Saturday, Aug. 29. With the postseason approaching, every point and result will factor into the Boys in Blue’s path to the playoffs.
While the draw and the lost extra point in the shootout leave room for improvement, the unbeaten run highlights a club that has found consistency and resilience in recent weeks. Krehl’s chase of the Golden Boot and emerging contributors such as Mangarov and Husakiwsky give Chattanooga several angles to pursue success as the regular season winds down.
