The Chattanooga Football Club got off to a winning start to its 2025 MLS NEXT Pro campaign with a 2-1 victory over Inter Miami CF II in Fort Lauderdale on Friday evening.
Goals from new signing Keegan Ancelin and returner Milo Garvanian made the difference to help give Head Coach Chris Nugent's side a precious three points to open the club's second season in the league.
Ancelin needed just 121 seconds to score his first official professional goal. The towering forward got on the end of a zipped-in, cut-back pass from captain Alex McGrath to give CFC the perfect start to the new season.
Cesar Abadia-Reda answered quickly for the hosts with a finish from an acute angle in the sixth minute.
However, the visitors would have the final say thanks to a beautiful, curling goal from Garvanian. The Albuquerque native received a pass from debutant Daniel Mangarov and found space on top of the penalty area before unleashing an unstoppable shot past a helpless Matias Marin.
CFC were able to keep Miami at bay thanks to a couple of fine saves from Eldin Jakupović and crucially win all three points for the first time in a MLS NEXT Pro season opener in club history.
"The result was excellent," said Nugent. "There were some good moments in the game. We made saves on the line and pressed up high; both were just as important as the attacking play. I was pleased with the resilience of the guys. You also saw some adaptability from the guys as well with some rotations and exchanging of roles, so that's a big takeaway."
Noteworthy:
- Eldin Jakupović, Keegan Ancelin, Daniel Mangarov and Nick Mendonca made their first starts in an official match for Chattanooga FC
- Ancelin and Mangarov made their first-ever starts as professionals
- Ancelin scored his first professional goal within 121 seconds of kick-off
- Milo Garvanian scored his sixth goal for Chattanooga FC
- Mangarov recorded his first assist for the club
- Substitutes Steeve Louis Jean, Ameziane Sid Mohand and Ethan Dudley all made their official CFC debuts
CFC will host Southeast rivals Huntsville City FC in the club's home opener at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga on Saturday, March 15th at 7:00 p.m. ET.