Ryan Knapp
August 1, 2010--2:53 a.m. CST

MADISON, Ala--The National Premier Soccer League crowned it’s sixth champion on Saturday night as Sacramento Gold defeated Chattanooga FC 3-1 in front of 1,080 fans in Madison, Alabama.

Fynn Glover opened the scoring on 13 minutes after Thomas Clark headed down a cross to Glover’s feet just outside the 18. Glover collected the pass and took a right footed shot which beat Conor McNulty to his right and found the back of the net.

Sacramento would wait until the 41st minute to answer. A cross played in from the Gold was parried away by Masters. The bouncing ball fell to Ernesto Carranza who smacked home a volley from 24 yards out to tie the match.

Under a minute later the Gold’s Utodi Madu cleaned up a poorly defended corner kick and smacked the ball off the crossbar and in, increasing the lead 2-1.

A ten-man CFC team could not equalize in the second half, with Irvin Espinal missing a crucial penalty opportunity late in the second half.
Carranza would net his second in the 83 off of a beautiful feed from Manolo Piña. Carranza recieved the ball 10 yards from goal and cut to Chattanooga FC GK Richard Master’s left, beating a defender and blasting the ball past Masters to finish the game 3-1.

The first half was filled with end to end action from the opening whistle. CFC struck within a minute with a shot coming off of the goalpost as they threatened early and often but without quality shots on frame.

Sacramento Gold played a very counterattacking style of play, and sprung Manolo Piña on goal on several occassions. Masters was equal to the task, denying Piña on his first quality chance in the 12th minute.

The game took a turn in first half extra time when the Gold´s Ivan Bermudez saw red after kicking at CFC´s Drew Courtney following a collision. The Gold were reduced to 10 men for the duration.

The Gold made a intersting goalkeeper switch after the first half with Max Herrera subbed in for Conor McNulty.  

"I feel we have two of the best goalkeepers in the country." Said Sacramento Gold Head Coach Rick Caldwell. 

Even down to ten men the Gold were the more dangerous side in the second half. Masters was forced into several difficult saves from Manolo Piña and Ernesto Carranza.

CFC pushed forward and were rewarded when Talhe Dikaitmez pointed to a spot after a Chattanooga player was pulled down just inside the box.  

Irvin Espinal stepped up to take the penality but was denied by Max Herrera. Herrera dove to his left to make the save on Espinal’s low driven penalty.

CFC began to push forward late into the second half but could not convert.  The Gold would counterattack one last time and find their third goal through hard work of Manolo Piña and Carranza.  

"You know, it was a heartbreaking loss for our guys and for our supporters," said Chattanooga FC board member Sheldon Grizzle. "The players worked so hard to get where we are tonight in just our second season. I can say with certainty that Chattanoogans are proud of the way these guys played, not just tonight but all season."

"We felt we had some confidence from the Second half of  the semifinal  match and we wanted to carry that style of soccer into the  game today. said Caldwell. "We kept our heads in it and we defended well in the second half."

A victorious Sacramento Gold team were presented with two trophies by NPSL Commissioner Dan Trainor: the 2010 NPSL Championship trophy and the travelling trophy which will stay in Madison until the 2011 Final Four.  

Post Match Interviews

Rick Caldwell gives his thoughts on Ernesto Carranza and why he switched goalkeepers at the half. 

Ernesto Carranza talks about his individual performance during post match celebrations.