Birmingham Legion – Memphis Flyer

Some losses sting more than others. Dropping points at home, against rivals Birmingham Legion FC, is something no fan wants to experience. And this match truly was a battle, a back-and-forth slugfest between these regional competitors who went blow for blow throughout the 90 minutes. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t the team’s day, and Memphis fell 4-2 at home against Birmingham.

This clash is always one that fans put on their calendar, the build-up to each contest seeing some light, and some not so light, ribbing between the fan bases online. For those regularly outside soccer circles, there’s a saying that “form goes out the window” during a “derby” (a match between local rivals), so previous results and logic need not apply when trying to predict the outcome. It’s hard to bet against Memphis this season, but lest we forget, Birmingham are also a top team in the Eastern Conference.

Before the match, the commentators speculated that this game could be a shoot-out, and that’s exactly what happened. Memphis got the fun started early, going ahead thanks to a name that should be familiar on the score sheet from the past couple of weeks. Midfielder Leston Paul played a ball into the box, and Phillip Goodrum’s dummy allowed Luiz Fernando to take a sweet first touch into space and slot home his left-footed shot to put Memphis up 1-0 in the 18th minute.

Unfortunately, some uncertainty began to creep into Memphis’ game. We started seeing uncharacteristic mistakes on the defensive side, with players perhaps a little tired after the midweek trip to Albuquerque. Birmingham tied up the game after Anderson Asiedu drew a sloppy foul in Memphis’ box, with former USMNT forward Juan Agudelo equalizing from the spot in the 28th minute. Just a couple minutes later, Patrick Seagrist had to intervene with a headed clearance off the line to prevent Memphis going behind. But 901 FC did eventually fall behind from a corner kick just before halftime, and shortly into the second half, Birmingham extended their lead to 3-1 when Marlon Santos pounced on Rece Buckmaster’s mistake at the back and shot past Trey Muse.

Memphis did pull a goal back in the 61st minute, when Goodrum’s shot ricocheted off Jeremy Kelly and into the back of the net. But while pushing forward for an equalizer, Memphis conceded again, Birmingham restoring their two-goal cushion and seeing out the game for a 4-2 win.

It’s a disappointing loss for sure, but no cause for panic. On the balance of play, Saturday’s match was pretty even. 901 FC held 59 percent possession, taking 15 shots (10 in the box) to Birmingham’s 17 (11 in the box), and forcing the Legion into almost three times as many defensive clearances. The key differences came in just a few instances when Memphis’ concentration levels dropped, with a small number of mistakes being punished by the Legion attack. It’s not the kind of thing we see from 901 FC every week, and it’s something that coach Ben Pirmann will be quick to stamp out.

Despite the loss, Memphis emerged from the weekend holding down second place in the Eastern Conference standings on 51 points. And that top spot is still within touching distance, with frontrunners Louisville City FC sitting on 55 points, albeit having played one less game.

The playoffs surely beckon, and as it stands, Memphis can go toe to toe with any opponent they match up against. Next up are Loudoun United FC at AutoZone Park on Wednesday, August 31st. Loudoun currently sit 10th in the Eastern Conference standings and present a good opportunity for Memphis to get back to winning ways.

The trip to Indianapolis held so much promise: 901 FC’s recent string of results positioned it to take a crack at playoff qualification down the home stretch. And with the Indy Eleven having lost its last four games, high-flying Memphis was well poised to bag three more points. Alas, one of this season’s Eastern Conference powerhouses managed to regain its mojo and beat Bluff City’s best efforts. After a 3-0 loss on the road, Memphis’ hopes of reaching the postseason seem grim.

Coach Tim Mulqueen put out a strong starting 11, as expected, and the boys more than held their own throughout the 90 minutes. However, Indy showcased a ruthless efficiency that spoke to its experience as a franchise. Memphis conceded opportunities early and dug itself into a 2-0 hole within 22 minutes. What rankled was that rather than concede from sharp attacking play by a superior opponent, 901 FC fell apart on set pieces twice in quick succession.

901FC

901 FC’s attack misfired.

Down two goals on the road is always a tough proposition, and it put the onus on Memphis to make something happen. Indy was able to sit back a little more without leaving its defense open. And the longer Memphis went without a goal, the more it felt inevitable that Indy would wrap it up with a neat little bow.

Sure enough, Memphis conceded a third goal on the break with less than 15 minutes left to play, creating what might seem like an insurmountable gap between 901 FC and the last playoff spot. But the roster that Mulqueen has organized isn’t one to give up without a fight, and even after letting in two early goals, the team continued to grit its way through a tough matchup.

Earlier in the season, 901 FC relied on Elliot Collier’s magic to make things happen on the field, but Memphis’ possession game has markedly improved since Mulqueen finished constructing his new-look squad. Even when Indy pressed high, the midfield circulated the ball quickly. Cam Lindley and Dan Metzger buzzed about providing outlets for teammates and looking for options to move the ball forward.

On the attacking front, Marcus Epps came to the fore, constantly driving forward with purpose and precision to create opportunities for himself and others. Two of his strikes accounted for Memphis’ three shots on target, and he was unlucky not to find the back of the net on this occasion. Brandon Allen, on the other hand, was effectively marshalled by the opposition defense. Indy held him to just one touch inside the box in 90 minutes, essentially neutralizing his goal-scoring threat.

Losing 3-0 doesn’t look good, but it doesn’t mean Memphis was comprehensively outclassed. Indy scored on three of its four shots on target, a usually unrealistic conversion rate. This weekend’s opponent likely won’t pose such a threat. The visiting Charlotte Independence sits two spots below 12th-placed Memphis in the Eastern Conference standings (although it has won its last two games). 901 FC is a different prospect since Charlotte won the reverse fixture 1-0 back in July, so the game should be manageable at AutoZone Park. Mulqueen has to mark this game as three points, which would bring Memphis back within touching distance of a playoff spot.

Birmingham Legion narrowly holds the final qualification place, in 10th, but is tied on 40 points with 11th-placed Charleston Battery. Memphis sits six points behind at 34, but the Legion’s next game is away at Hartford Athletic, the worst team in the United Soccer League this season. Meanwhile, the Battery hosts the iffy Loudoun United. Both playoff contenders can reasonably expect to win their matchups, which means Memphis would need to win six points in its final two contests while both of its rivals lose their remaining games. It’s unlikely, but 901 FC didn’t come this far just to give up. The desire and tenacity on display in recent weeks shows how much the team cares, so there’s nothing for fans to do but buckle up and enjoy the ride.