Tennesssee Tempo's run in the US Open Cup ended on Wednesday night, falling 1-0 to Chattanooga FC in the Second Round of the competition.
The vibe check (TL;DR)
- What happened: Tennessee Tempo FC couldn't continue their run in the US Open Cup. After an impressive 1-0 win over USL League One's Chattanooga Red Wolves in the First Round, the UPSL side fell on the road to Chattanooga FC on Wednesday night, ending their tournament.
- What we learned: Tempo held their own again, looking an equal match for the MLS NEXT Pro club.
- Big picture: Out of the US Open Cup, Tempo will shift their full focus to the 2026 UPSL season. They're in second place in the KY-TN table, with a 7-3 win in their season opener.
Ben Wright
Key moments
- 44' | Chattanooga FC open the scoring just before the half, with center back Nathan Koehler heading home a corner kick to put the hosts ahead.
- 45+2' | Horace Avila Jr. almost finds an immediate response for Tempo when his shot takes a wicked deflection and nearly catches goalkeeper Griffin Huff wrong-footed
- 77' | Chattanooga forward Keegan Ancelin has a golden chance to double the lead and secure the win, but smashes his shot off the crossbar from close range.
- 85' | The chance of the night falls to Kwadwo Poku, but the former New York City FC midfielder puts his shot right down the middle at the 'keeper. A foot to either side would have pulled Tempo level.
Standout performers
- Goalkeeper Francois Djiba was exceptional, making three saves in the first half, including a spectacular reactionary shot from point-blank range just before halftime. At times, his aggression hurt him. He tried to claim the cross for Chattanooga's opener and missed, and nearly conceded an identical goal just after halftime that hit the crossbar.
- Seth Otuonye impressed in a more central role, creating the bulk of the few chances Tempo were able to create in the first half.
- Again tasked with a tempo-setting role in midfield, Emiliano Rodríguez showed his quality on the ball, keeping the ball moving and trying to pull apart the organized Chattanooga defense.
Lineup notes
Head coach Gift Ndam only made one change from the side that beat Chattanooga Red Wolves in the First Round, bringing in Belize international Horace Avila Jr. for Stanley GrandPierre.
We're watching Tennessee Tempo's US Open Cup match against Chattanooga FC on Paramount+! Stay tuned to SixOneFiveSoccer.com for coverage after the match.
— SixOneFive Soccer (@sixonefivesoccer.com) 2026-04-01T22:40:50.085Z
What it means
It was a valiant effort for Tempo. They held their own once again against a fully professional side, and defended resolutely. They'll want some of the chances they created back, with poor finishing wasting a handful of chances, especially Kwadwo Poku's second-half effort.
Overall, though, this was a strong showing from the UPSL club, who leave the competition with their heads held high.
Up next
Tempo travel to Kentucky on Saturday to take on Real Henderson in the UPSL regular season.
