Chattanooga FC couldn’t have asked for a much better way to close out the MLS NEXT Pro regular season.
Playing through rain-soaked conditions at SeatGeek Stadium, Chattanooga FC defeated Chicago Fire FC II 1-0 on Sunday, finishing the regular season with the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Captain Alex McGrath provided the decisive moment early in the second half, and the Chattanooga defense did the rest.
The victory also put a final stamp on a historic regular season for the Boys in Blue.
Chattanooga finished with 56 points and 15 wins, setting new club records in both categories while earning the highest seed in club history.
The result also extended Chattanooga’s winning streak to four matches heading into the postseason.
Alex McGrath Delivers Again Against Chicago
The winning goal came in the 52nd minute, with McGrath pressuring Chicago goalkeeper Jason Nemo and forcing the ball over the goal line.
It was an unconventional finish, but it counted all the same.
And for McGrath, there was something familiar about scoring against Chicago.
The Chattanooga captain has now scored against Chicago Fire FC II in three consecutive matches.
He nearly opened the scoring before halftime, too.
McGrath connected with a clipped-in cross from Damien Barker John and sent a volley just an inch wide of the post.
The second-half pressure eventually paid off.
McGrath’s goal was also significant beyond the three points.
It was his 30th all-time goal for Chattanooga FC, making him only the fourth player in club history to reach that milestone.
Chattanooga’s Defense Holds Firm in the Rain
Chicago controlled much of the statistical profile of the match.
The hosts finished with 70% possession, 21 shots and 10 corner kicks compared with Chattanooga’s 30% possession, 10 shots and five corners.
But Chattanooga’s defense consistently managed the difficult moments.
Goalkeeper Eldin Jakupović made six saves, while the Chattanooga backline recorded 10 clearances.
Steeve Louis Jean also produced a crucial goal-line clearance early in the first half as both teams adjusted to the wet conditions.
The defensive effort ultimately delivered Chattanooga’s first clean-sheet road victory since a 1-0 win at Inter Miami CF II on July 31.
For a team preparing for the playoffs, that ability to protect a narrow lead could be just as important as the attacking production that got Chattanooga to the No. 2 seed.
A Record-Setting Regular Season
The Chicago victory completed a regular season that pushed Chattanooga FC into new territory.
The club finished with:
- 56 regular-season points
- 15 wins
- No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference
- Four consecutive victories to close the regular season
Each of the first three represents a new Chattanooga FC club record in MLS NEXT Pro.
The season also carries another distinction.
According to Chattanooga FC, the club’s second-place finish is the best regular-season finish ever recorded by an independent club in MLS NEXT Pro history.
That makes the No. 2 seed more than just a favorable playoff position.
It represents the strongest regular-season finish Chattanooga has produced since entering the league.
Four Straight Wins Heading Into the Playoffs
Chattanooga isn’t entering the postseason cold.
The Boys in Blue have won their last four matches, defeating:
- Carolina Core FC, 5-2
- Huntsville City FC, 2-1
- Atlanta United 2, 4-1
- Chicago Fire FC II, 1-0
The four-match run has also demonstrated different ways for Chattanooga to win.
The 5-2 result against Carolina Core showcased the team’s attacking firepower.
The victory over Huntsville was another close contest.
Against Atlanta United 2, Chattanooga produced four goals.
And against Chicago, the team needed to grind out a 1-0 result on the road while defending through difficult weather conditions.
That variety could prove useful once the margins become smaller in the postseason.
Farid Sar-Sar Matches a Club Milestone
The regular-season finale also produced another piece of club history.
Farid Sar-Sar made his 92nd appearance for Chattanooga FC, bringing him level with head coach Richard Dixon for the second-most appearances in club history.
It was another reminder of the continuity behind a team that has now reached a new level in MLS NEXT Pro.
McGrath’s 30-goal milestone and Sar-Sar’s 92nd appearance added individual achievements to what was already a historic team season.
What Happens Next for Chattanooga FC?
The regular season is over.
The postseason is not.
Chattanooga FC will make the second selection in Wednesday’s MLS NEXT Pro Pick-Your-Opponent show at 1 p.m. ET, with the Eastern Conference higher seeds choosing their opponents.
That gives Chattanooga a significant say in how its playoff path begins.
The club will then return home for its playoff match on Sunday, October 18.
The opponent and kickoff time will be confirmed later this week.
For Chattanooga, the objective now changes.
The regular season was about building enough consistency to earn a strong position.
The playoffs are about turning that position into a postseason run.
And Chattanooga will enter that environment with four straight wins, a defense that just recorded a road clean sheet and an attack led by a captain who has just reached 30 goals for the club.
Community Spotlight: Building on a Strong Foundation
Chattanooga FC’s historic regular season didn’t happen because of one match. The club built toward this moment through 15 wins, 56 points, a four-match winning streak and the strongest regular-season finish in its MLS NEXT Pro history. Now, the No. 2 seed gives the Boys in Blue an opportunity to build on that foundation when the playoffs begin.
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ASN Take
Chattanooga FC’s 2026 regular season deserves to be viewed as more than simply a second-place finish.
The club set new records for points, wins and playoff seeding, while producing the best regular-season finish by an independent club in MLS NEXT Pro history.
The Chicago match showed another side of the team.
Chattanooga didn’t dominate possession. It didn’t lead the shot count. It didn’t need to.
It found a goal through McGrath, defended the lead and left Chicago with all three points.
That kind of result can be particularly valuable heading into the postseason.
Now comes the interesting part.
Chattanooga gets the second pick in the Eastern Conference’s Pick-Your-Opponent process, meaning the club will have a direct role in determining its first playoff matchup.
After everything Chattanooga accomplished during the regular season, the next chapter starts with that decision.
Final Word
A 1-0 win in the rain may not have been the most glamorous way to finish the regular season.
But for Chattanooga FC, it was fitting.
A goal from the captain.
A clean sheet on the road.
Another club record.
And a fourth consecutive victory.
Now the Boys in Blue head into the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, with the chance to build on the best regular season in club history.
The regular season is officially finished.
The real test starts now.
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Author: Quique Lopez
Quique Lopez doesn’t just cover soccer—he deconstructs it with the precision of a veteran and the wit of a storyteller. A former player who sees the pitch as both a tactical chessboard and a cultural stage, Quique balances sharp critiques with a genuine love for the game’s soul. He’s as quick to call out the ego of a superstar as he is to find the hidden beauty in a local derby.
