Photo Courtesy of Rocha Multimedia

Written By Scott Matulis

Playing without its two top goal scorers, Bay Cities FC lost 3-0 to Chattanooga FC Saturday night at Sequoia Stadium. Without Orendain, who has been out for weeks due to injury and Romero, serving the first of a three-game red card suspension, Bay Cities was only able to muster eight shots on goal, and only two on target. It was the second loss in two tries for Bay Cities to Chattanooga, the last coming May 28th, 4-2 in Chattanooga.

Chattanooga FC, which leads the NISA East division, took the lead only two minutes into the game. Winger Brett Jones took a pass down the right hand side from current Golden Boot leader Markus Naglestad and, when Bay Cities goalie Alan Cruz-Gomez came racing off his line to meet him, slotted the ball past him for the score.

Naglestad scored himself 15 minutes later, converting a turnover by Bay Cities’ Ivan Valencia to double the lead. Valencia, playing deep in the midfield, intercepted a bouncing pass 20 yards from goal and tried to swing the ball wide to Andres Jimenez, but Chattanooga winger Taylor Gray, who scored a brace vs. Bay Cities in the teams’ last meeting, stepped in front of Jimenez and intercepted the pass. Gray chipped it over the top to Alex McGrath who, either accidentally or purposely, chested a perfect pass to Naglestad who slammed a left-footed shot past Cruz-Gomez to put Bay Cities in a 2-0 hole. It was Naglestad’s 10th goal of the season. 

Chattanooga scored again just before halftime off of a corner kick. Bay Cities defender Jacob Penner failed to clear the kick, instead heading the ball to Chattanooga striker Colin Stripling at the top of the left side of the Cruz-Gomez’ box. Stripling controlled the ball then lofted a beautiful pass over the top of the defense to Travis Ward three feet in front of goal. Ward calmly bunted the ball past Cruz-Gomez putting Chattanooga FC up 3-0.

Bay Cities created a few chances in the first half, including a shot by Adolfo Trujillio, in the lineup for Romero at left wing, that required a save by Chattanooga goalie Kevin Gonzalez and a nice cross by Trujillo that barely slid past the outstretched foot of Edson Cardona a foot in front of goal. A free-kick by Edson Cardona also forced a diving save from Gonzalez, but that was as close as Bay Cities FC came to getting on the board.

Anders on strategic moves at halftime.

Perez changed things up at the start of the second half, bringing in Marco Silveira for Trujillo, Mumbi Kwisele for Carlos Gomez-Zavala and Alonso Lara for Cruz-Gomez in goal. Bay Cities responded with Cardona firing a shot 15-yard out from goal that was deflected off Ward’s leg two yards to the right of Gonzalez’s post. Cardona had another chance a few minutes later, but this Gonzalez got his right hand up and deflected the ball out of range of goal.

Just before time ran out, Jacob Penner received a straight red card for a challenge on McGrath. Penner will miss the next 3 games of NISA play. 

With the loss, Bay Cities FC fell to third in NISA’s West division, 10 points behind division leaders Cal United Strikers FC. It marks the fourth game this season that Bay Cities FC have failed to score.

Anders on finding goals. 

Next Home game: Bay Cities FC has several weeks off and returns to action July 9 vs. LA Force at 7 pm at Sequoia Stadium Wednesday, June 1 to take on the Flower City Union.  For tickets, click here.