Tag: Memphis 901 FC

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Sports Sports Feature

With One Match Remaining, 901 FC Looks Ahead

CREDIT: 901 FC

With year two coming to a close, 901 FC has the chance to set a positive tone for the offseason. Everyone saw the graphic plastered up on the ESPN feed during last weekend’s 3-1 away win vs. the Charlotte Independence: If Memphis had won all the games in which it had gone ahead in Group G, then the team would have easily topped the group. Instead, defensive inconsistency frequently saw the team drop valuable points in the race for a playoff berth.

901 FC

Cal Jennings proved too much for the Charlotte defense to handle during 901 FC’s 3-1 win.

Despite a frustrating campaign, the squad and interim coach Ben Pirmann began the healing process with last Saturday’s victory over Charlotte. A shaky early 20 minutes culminated in a soft concession to Charlotte’s Dane Kelly, but from there, 901 FC flipped a switch and put on about as comprehensive a performance as we’ve seen this season. Midfielder Jose Baxter picked up his first goal with a sublime curler from outside the box after great work from Keanu Marsh-Brown. Cal Jennings continued his hot run of form with menacing runs throughout the 90, constantly tormenting Charlotte’s backline and helping himself to two more goals.

The defense, meanwhile, kept a level of focus that we haven’t seen in quite some time. There were none of the risky mistakes that we’ve seen over the course of the season from both center backs and fullbacks, and constant communication kept Charlotte from finding swathes of space to exploit.

And yet, the narrative for the game could have been so much different. Memphis took to the field with only 14 players on their roster; several had been cut from the squad due to violating some unspecified team rules. That meant the team had zero margin for error when it came to substitutions and injuries. Additionally, 901 FC had no chance of qualifying for the playoffs, while Charlotte looked to snag first spot in Group G. And yet, what we saw out there in Charlotte was a collective buy-in that said the squad wouldn’t give up. It would have been easy to phone it in for the remaining couple of games, but there was urgency, precision, and fight.

As mentioned before, Jennings made it his personal mission to race toward the Charlotte defense and keep them off balance. Marsh-Brown could easily be spotted chasing the opposition into his own defensive half to recover the ball. Tommy McCabe and Leston Paul were totally locked in at the center of the pitch, spinning and playing quick vertical passes to unlock their opponents. And at the back, goalkeeper Jimmy Hague recovered from an early error to make several crucial stops and keep Charlotte off the board in the second half.

The season didn’t pan out as the organization wanted, but the staff and the players know that. It was a season of fine margins, but Pirmann and the squad know they can do better. “At the end of the day, we can say ‘we were this far away from this many games,’” said Pirmann at a press conference earlier this week. “I know they put the graphic up during the game about the what if, but hopefully there are no more what ifs. Hopefully we can look at it and say this is what we’ve done, this is where we want to maintain standards, and then keep going from there. Whether it’s life or its 901 FC, there are a lot of learning lessons.”

While there won’t be any playoffs after year two, the team has shown what it’s capable of achieving at its peak, and I think that ceiling is certainly that of a playoff team. For now, it’s clear that the players have bought in to what Pirmann is selling, and the best thing they can do is go out with a bang after a run of positive results.

901 FC closes out its season at AutoZone Park against Birmingham Legion tomorrow, October 3rd, at 7 p.m.

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Sports Sports Feature

901 FC Dismisses Head Coach Tim Mulqueen

CREDIT: Eric Glemser

Eric Glemser

A poor run of results this season led to the dismissal of 901 FC head coach Tim Mulqueen.

In a press release, 901 FC announced the dismissal of head coach Tim Mulqueen, effective immediately.

Assistant coach Ben Pirmann has been named interim head coach, and will manage the team in the next match against Louisville City this Saturday. Pirmann, who joined the staff in December 2018, has previous experience as a head coach, having spent six years in charge of Detroit City FC of the National Independent Soccer Association.


The announcement follows Sunday’s 3-2 loss to North Carolina FC, in which Memphis squandered a two-goal advantage.

“Tim was the first coach in 901 FC history and we are incredibly grateful for his countless hours and dedication to the club,” said principal owner Peter B. Freund. “That said, our goal from day one has been to build a winning culture and compete for a USL Championship and so far we have fallen short.”

Mulqueen was selected as the franchise’s inaugural head coach in August 2018, before the team launched in Spring 2019. In just under two seasons, he oversaw 11 wins, 11 draws, and 24 losses.

“Mulch’s [belief and hard work] never wavered as he took on the task of leading 901 FC from its inception,” said sporting director Tim Howard. “We are proud that he will always be the first head coach in our franchise’s history. Unfortunately, the results have fallen short of our expectations. I wish Mulch nothing but the very best in his future coaching endeavors. The club will quickly move forward in conducting an international search for our next head coach.”

901 FC elaborated on the dismissal and a new coaching search at a press conference later this afternoon.

Today’s a tough day,” said 901 FC president Craig Unger, “and ultimately as we have said in our statements, that it’s about wins and losses, and our goal was to compete and compete quickly.”

My hat goes off to him, difficult times,” followed Howard. “An expansion club is very difficult to get up and running, and this year for everybody it’s been very difficult. Through trying times he’s been very steadfast in his work and his dedication to the team. Sports is very unfortunate in that when a team doesn’t perform and results don’t come the way we like, the manager suffers for that.

“We want to bring someone in who has a reputation of winning because that’s what our fans expect. As we start to do our due diligence, that’s part of the process. Our reach is thankfully far and wide, so we’ll leave no stone unturned trying to find the right manager to be our next head coach.

We’ve promoted Ben Pirmann to interim head coach for the remainder of the season. As we’ve told Ben, it’s his car to drive now. We’re going to sit back and observe, and he’ll be part of that coaching search process given that results go our way and we like what’s happening. We felt right now, given that results were trending in the wrong direction, that we needed to cut ties with coach Mulqueen and move forward. And it gives us, and him, time to move on to the next thing. The more time we have to find our next head coach, the better we’ll do.”

This season’s coronavirus-hit USL campaign has been tough for 901 FC, with only two wins from 12 matches so far. Memphis is directly competing with three others team in Group G for a playoff spot, but sits last on 10 points with 12 matches played.

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Sports Sports Feature

901 FC’s Matt Hundley Takes Control in North Carolina

CREDIT: Eric Glemser

How about Matt Hundley’s left foot? There are a lot of games I feel 901 FC should have won this season, but judging by the eye test, yesterday’s match away to North Carolina FC was not one of them. When the home team’s DJ Taylor nodded in unmarked to equalize in stoppage time, it looked like it would be another night of frustration. But Hundley had the final word, the substitute pulling a rabbit out of a hat to hand Memphis three points in a 3-2 victory.

Eric Glemser

Rafa Mentzingen – pictured here at a home game at AutoZone Park – opened the scoring for 901 FC in the first half against North Carolina

We’ve seen plenty of narrow, one-goal losses where Memphis, statistically, has outplayed its opponent in every department except scoring. And sure, while putting the ball in the back of the net is the most important thing, it was frustrating to see so many good performances go to waste. But last night, 901 FC showcased a clinical approach to goal that has been lacking all season. Sure, Memphis rode its luck for large stretches; some of the chances NC missed have to be seen to be believed. But in crunch time, all that matters are the three points.

There were a few flashes of promise for 901 FC outside the goals, but NC pretty much ran the show all night. The home team held 68 percent possession, outshot Memphis 25-7, and had 10 corners (Memphis had 0). It felt like jumping into a soccer version of Freaky Friday; we’ve seen Coach Tim Mulqueen set up the squad to be proactive in its play for most of the season, so it’s rare to see Memphis on the back foot like this. For much of the night, 901 FC looked sluggish.

Tommy McCabe, Jose Baxter, and Jean-Christophe Koffi started in midfield, but the press was disjointed at times, leaving NC free to play into space and isolate the Memphis defenders. Manny Perez, in particular, caused 901 FC no end of trouble racing in down the left side of our defense and sending in quality service that NC contrived to squander time and again. Up top, Brandon Allen chased down long balls and hassled defenders, but didn’t receive much in the way of service from his teammates.

Memphis struck first, with a type of play we’ve seen many times this season: a lofted ball over the top down the right flank. Mark Segbers (and his late runs) is usually the recipient of this kind of pass, but with the fullback out of the team tonight, Rafa Mentzingen picked up the slack this time. In the 30th minute, Baxter swiveled away from pressure in the center circle and first-timed a pass into the Brazilian’s path, who made several stepovers before cutting inside and smashing a shot past NC keeper Alex Tambakis at the near post.

NC remained on the front foot through the rest of the first half and much of the second, but in the 75th minute, substitute Cal Jennings took down a long ball and caressed it into McCabe’s path. The midfielder played it out to Hundley, who sprinted upfield before delicately cutting onto his left and placing the ball underneath Tambakis and into the far corner for 2-0.

That’s when the game should have been done and dusted, but NC cranked the pressure up to maximum and battered Memphis’ increasingly creaky defense. First, Robbie Kristo struck to make it 2-1 in the 86th minute. And when the fourth official indicated that there would be nine minutes of stoppage time, it seemed likely that there would be another late concession. Sure enough, Taylor was inexplicably left unmarked in a packed Memphis box in the 91st to nod home for 2-2. It was a script we’d seen all too often this season. Memphis has had trouble holding on to a winning position this season, and NC seemed well poised to get another. But while I was busy holding my head in my hands, the Memphis players were dusting themselves off to have one last crack at a winner.

In the 98th minute, with everyone forward, Liam Doyle flicked a pass towards Zach Carroll, who played a ball out wide to Hundley. The substitute forward controlled it on the end line and didn’t look to have much on. But with a quick shimmy, he cut back into the box and wrapped his foot around the ball, cleverly bending it around NC defender Conor Donovan and into the far corner to secure the victory.

Hundley magic aside, 901 FC didn’t have much going for it this game. NC found it very easy to break through both the midfield pressure and the defensive lines. NC’s Perez in particular got behind many times, and again, it’s hard to believe how many good chances the home team missed. But a win is a win, and points are going to be at a premium in the run-in. 901 FC only has five games remaining, and is third in Group G on 10 points (level with NC, who have played one less game). Charlotte, in second, is on 18 points. Realistically, they might be too far ahead to catch, but with 15 points up for grabs, there’s still a chance. For now, Memphis has the chance to bloody NC’s nose again in a rematch on Sunday. Can 901 FC make it five out of five down the stretch? It just might have to.

901 FC faces off against Group G opponents North Carolina FC at 5:00 pm Sunday, September 13.

Watch highlights from the match here.

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Sports Sports Feature

Keanu Marsh-Brown Strikes to Give 901 FC a First Victory of the Season

CREDIT: Eric Glemser

It was more than just relief when Keanu Marsh-Brown saw his match-winning shot ripple the net in the second half of 901 FC’s game against St. Louis at AutoZone Park; it was wholly deserved. Memphis had strung together two stellar performances in their prior matches, yet inexplicably walked away with only two draws to show for their efforts. But the first win of the season has been coming, and 901 FC’s 1-0 home win against St. Louis FC is just rewards for a hat-trick of impressive performances.

Eric Glemser

Keanu Marsh-Brown celebrates after scoring the winner in 901 FC’s 1-0 victory over St. Louis.

I’ll just get this out of the way now: This is basically the Keanu Marsh-Brown (KMB) edition of my weekly match analysis. Since USL’s return to play, he may be Memphis’ most dynamic and consistent performer, especially in recent matches. If you look back, most of the good things this team produces offensively come through Marsh-Brown. His fleet feet have been possessed of late, quickly shuttling the ball up field, smashing powerful free kicks on frame, bamboozling his opponents, or putting in off-the-ball runs to create space for teammates. He’s the puppet master, with defensive marionettes calamitously dancing along to the tug of his strings. Hyperbole? Maybe, but take a look at the three biggest offensive plays from last weekend’s game. You’ll see a recurring theme.

First, in the 15th minute, my favorite midfielder Duane Muckette hit a nice pass out to Rece Buckmaster on the wing to spread the play. The fullback played a sweeping ball into the box, which found its way to … you guessed it, Marsh-Brown. A St. Louis defender got a little touch on the ball, however, so KMB couldn’t sort his feet out and placed the shot right at the keeper. Even though he didn’t score, it was a great start; right place, right time isn’t always a teachable skill, but putting yourself in a scoring position is half the battle. Also, credit is due for Brandon Allen’s run on the same play. He faked like he was running to the far post, but then quickly darted closer to the near post and just missed getting his foot on the end of Buckmaster’s cross. That, in turn, left Marsh-Brown wide open for his attempt.

Second, and most significant, was the goal. In the 54th minute, Marsh-Brown again arrived at the right spot to seal Memphis’ first victory. This whole play, however, was flawless in its execution. Midfielder Jean-Christophe Koffi had space on the ball and looked up to see fullback Mark Segbers darting in behind St. Louis’ defensive line. His exquisite chipped pass over the top found the defender, who squared for the onrushing Marsh-Brown to smash the ball into the roof of the net. As I tweeted on Saturday, that’s a wonderfully crafted sequence that you might see in Europe’s top leagues. The team obviously hasn’t had its confidence dented by lackluster results.

Immediately after the goal, KMB once again made a big impact, albeit in a more indirect way. Segbers held up the ball just outside the St. Louis box, eyeing three defenders blocking his way. Marsh-Brown looped behind him and darted out to the wing, pulling St. Louis’ Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé with him. That left a slight opening for Segbers, who duly obliged and burst into the 18 to draw a penalty. While Allen’s tame effort was easily saved, it luckily didn’t make a difference on the night.

While the contributions might not have been as all-action as recent matches, Marsh-Brown is currently powering Memphis’ offense. Coach Tim Mulqueen looks to have given him license to work his magic, and it’s paying off. On a night where the opponent keyed in to hinder Allen’s impact, it was important that someone step up to ease the scoring burden.

Defensively, things were once again pretty tight at the back. Tristan Hodge looks to have firmly seized the second centerback berth alongside Zach Carroll, and the pair didn’t allow St. Louis too many good looks at goal, giving Tim Howard a clean sheet. While I predicted St. Louis would play mostly on the counter like in recent weeks, they actually held more possession with 57.7 percent of the ball. But Memphis managed the game well. For the time being, it looks like Mulqueen has settled on his preferred lineup. That should only serve Memphis going well, especially with tougher tests on the horizon.

As it stands, 901 FC is second in Group G on five points, but has played at least one more match than its other group rivals. Up next this weekend is a tough home matchup against North Carolina FC, which has tallied a draw and a win since returning to action.

901 FC returns to action this Saturday, August 8th, at 4 p.m.

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Sports Sports Feature

901 FC Gathers Momentum with Saint Louis Looming

CREDIT: Eric Glemser

A draw in the USL gets you one point, but sometimes such a result can feel like a win or a loss. For Memphis 901 FC, it probably hews closer to the latter. Having dominated for almost 90 minutes during a first home game after project restart, Tim Howard and co. left home turf with a 2-2 draw against the visiting Charlotte Independence.

So far this season, 901 FC has two points off two losses and two draws. The last two matches have seen Coach Tim Mulqueen’s men put out some pretty impressive performances, but to keep the momentum going, they’ll need two things we saw last weekend against Charlotte: a collective commitment on both sides of the ball, and moments of individual brilliance. Yes, that may seem obvious, but when even the best laid plans aren’t quite coming off, it takes a little bit of stardust to unlock a stubborn defense.

Eric Glemser

901 FC celebrates Brandon Allen’s opener in the 16th minute.

Through the first quarter of an hour, Memphis kept Charlotte from having any sort of sustained possession in dangerous areas. That dominance paid off in the 15th minute via the left-sided players all working together. From a throw-in on Memphis’ defensive half, Rece Buckmaster made a long toss forward, which was flicked on by Rafa Mentzingen. Striker Brandon Allen, who had dropped deep, bodied a Charlotte out of the way to clear path for Keanu Marsh-Brown, who duly obliged and raced upfield. The winger drew the attention of two Charlotte players, leaving them disorganized in transition and opening up a large vacuum of space outside the Independence’s box. When Marsh-Brown was fouled on the wing, Mentzingen, who had followed up the play, latched on to the loose ball and drive into the 18. He easily skipped past the Charlotte backline before crossing to Allen, who tapped in at the back post. It was a good team goal, with players operating on the same wavelength, reading each others’ positioning, and playing off the open space to craft a quality goal.

Eric Glemser

Fullback Rece Buckmaster produced a fine individual effort for 901 FC’s second goal against Charlotte.

901 FC’s second goal encapsulated that oh-so-crucial individual magic sometimes required to win games, but again, was helped along by Memphis’ sustained pressure. Putting defenders through unrelenting spells of pressure is more likely to lead to a mistake, and that’s exactly what happened when Allen sent in a cross in the 56th minute. Charlotte centerback Hugh Roberts whiffed on his attempted clearance, leaving the ball bobbling in the box. Buckmaster, who had stayed forward after a counterattack, seized on the loose ball, faked out Roberts as he cut left, and then calmly slotted into the back of the net. It’s the kind of composure you expect from a seasoned attacker, not your fullback, but it was just rewards for Memphis’ dominant performance.

On the defensive end, both goals conceded can be chalked up to freak occurrences. The first Charlotte equalizer came out of nothing in the first half, the product of a set piece cheaply given away outside the box in the 51st. For the second equalizer, well, it sure looked like centerback Zach Carroll got shoved to the ground in the build up. Unfortunately, it was a no-call from the referee.

Either way, Memphis can take a lot of positives from last weekend’s performance. The Carroll and Triston Hodge pairing seems very solid defensively, while adding Leston Paul to the midfield gave it more steel, especially when Mentzingen and Michael Reed worked their socks off to help out the backline. That solidity will be crucial in tomorrow’s match at AutoZone Park.

The visiting Saint Louis FC is coming off two wins against quality opposition (Indy Eleven and Louisville City). However, Saint Louis was outshot 39-9 in those matches, also riding its luck against some poor finishing from the opposition. Tomorrow’s visitors don’t create many chances, but have proved to be clinical with what they do produce. Memphis will need another fully committed showing from its defense and midfield to avoid giving Saint Louis, and its danger man Tyler Blackwood, a sniff of goal. If 901 FC plays like it did last weekend against Charlotte, Bluff City may very well see a first victory of the campaign.

Quick Notes

– I’m curious to see what Cal Jennings can produce in a full 90 minutes. He’s had a huge impact off the bench, scoring late against Atlanta and creating a gilt-edged chance for Duane Muckette against Charlotte.

– Eleven of Memphis’ 17 shots came inside the box. If just one or two more of those goes into the back of the net, these tight draws will turn into wins.

– AutoZone Park deftly handled fans returning to the stadium. Craig Unger and 901 FC are certainly going the extra mile to ensure that everyone closely follows safety protocols to the letter.

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Sports Sports Feature

Promising Signs for 901 FC In Atlanta Draw

CREDIT: Photo courtesy Atlanta United 2

After a tough return to action in Birmingham, 901 FC had a lot to work on in the next game against Atlanta United 2. In response, the team came firing out of the blocks against a young Atlanta squad. While the game was full of moments that could have swung the result either way, a 2-2 draw meant that Memphis earned its first point of the season.

There are two truths from last Saturday’s performance: the defense still needs work, and our strikers definitely have goals in them this season. On the attacking end, we saw some recognizable patterns of play that should stick around as the season continues. Let’s take a closer look at what worked, and what didn’t, during key plays from the match.

Photo courtesy Atlanta United 2

Memphis’ Liam Doyle wins a header over Atlanta’s Phillip Goodrum

In the first half, Memphis used its superior strength to win both physical and psychological duels with players. Centerback Liam Doyle led the charge with aggressive challenges on Atlanta attackers to win balls near the halfway line. This caused them to hesitate when going into challenges. In the 15th minute, this manifested with Segbers intercepting a ball in the final third and kicking it out to Pierre da Silva on the right wing. Segbers, playing at fullback but traditionally a winger, used his attacking instincts to make a run down the inside right channel into the box. This pulled attention from several members of the Atlanta defense, giving da Silva time and space to pick out a cross to forward Brandon Allen on the far post, which he headed over the bar.

While that pattern didn’t produce a goal, there were several similar instances throughout the game on both flanks with Allen on the end. Those sequences didn’t pay off today, but enough chances and Allen (one of the highest-scoring active players in the USL at the moment) will put them away. He did, however, get the equalizer at 1-1 when nodding in at the back post during a corner kick.

Working the flanks also paid dividends when 901 FC equalized to make it 2-2 in the 93rd minute. University of Memphis alum Raul Gonzalez (making his first appearance for 901 FC after sustaining a season-ending knee injury last pre-season) whipped in a cross off the right flank for new signing Cal Jennings. The substitute forward collected the ball on the edge of the box and took it to the byline, where he cut back and squeezed a shot in at the near post to make it 2-2. When a team has smart forwards like Allen and Jennings, they can take advantage of space in the box in crucial moments, as we saw last Saturday. On another note, Memphis is great at creating shooting chances at the top of the box. Many of these opportunities have been blocked or off target, but eventually, they’ll start to go in.

The defensive side of 901 FC’s game, however, still needs some fine-tuning. The first goal conceded was well worked by Atlanta, but Memphis keeper Jimmy Hague (standing in for Tim Howard) probably should have done a bit better since the shot was directly at him. Atlanta’s second, however, came from poor positioning in the second half. 

Opposing defender Mo Jadama burst forward looking for a pass, and Doyle stepped up to put pressure behind an Atlanta attacker. Fellow centerback Triston Hodge (filling in for the suspended Zach Carroll) stepped up with Doyle, but fullbacks Segbers and Rece Buckmaster both maintained their previous positions, breaking Memphis’ defensive line and allowing Jadama to slip a through-ball to 16-year-old (!) Coleman Gannon. The forward raced into the box, both onside and completely unimpeded, to put Atlanta ahead.

There are other defensive issues to sort out, as well. The defensive line hasn’t been as steady so far this season as it was last year. On the right and left side, both fullbacks occasionally over-commit to aerial balls, leaving attackers swathes of space to charge toward the box. Covering midfielders should be aware of these tendencies and be able to adjust accordingly.  It’s a big ask, but having a vocal presence, either in goal or the backline, will help players be in the right place at the right time.

Still work to be done, but last Saturday’s draw was a much-improved performance after the loss in Birmingham. Getting both strikers on the score sheet is a fantastic lead-in to a trio of games at AutoZone Park. 901 FC’s first home match of the restart is this Saturday against Charlotte Independence, who has yet to play since the USL season resumed. For some live game updates that evening, catch me on twitter: @ciccispizza.

901 FC plays at home against Charlotte Independence this Saturday, July 25, at 7:30 p.m.

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Sports Sports Feature

Rough Restart for 901 FC in Birmingham

CREDIT: photo by Eric Glemser

There was always a chance this could happen; with several months of inaction, some teams would surely adapt to the protracted season better than others. While there were some promising signs in Memphis’ 3-0 loss to Birmingham Legion, a sequence of unfortunate errors ultimately doomed 901 FC to a rough road loss. But despite the defeat, Memphis must quickly turn its attention to Saturday’s match in Atlanta.

On paper, the statistics paint a pretty good picture of Memphis’ play. The team held the possession advantage (52 percent), made more passes than Birmingham, and had a significantly higher tackle success rate. In fact, Memphis was superior in almost every statistical facet of play, except for where it mattered: quality chances. Birmingham Legion newcomer Bruno Lapa scored twice on his debut, the opener a volley into the ground that looped over goalkeeper Tim Howard and into the net in the 22nd minute (was it on purpose or a bit of luck? I can’t say).

photo by Eric Glemser

901 FC goalkeeper and part-owner Tim Howard was unhappy with the Memphis defense in Birmingham.

The next two goals conceded were hard to watch from a Memphis perspective. The defense was all at sea in transition, applying minimal pressure as Lapa was played in down the left before making an easy square for Brian Wright to tap home the Legion’s second in the 31st minute.  On the third, centerback Liam Doyle and midfielder Michael Reed both stopped and waited for an offsides flag that would never come. By then, Lapa was in behind to cut in and shoot for his second and Birmingham’s third on 41 minutes. To cap it off, centerback Zach Carroll received a red card for pulling back Wright when the attacker was clean through in the 59th minute.

Coach Tim Mulqueen can’t budget for individual errors like he saw on Wednesday in his game plan, but since going 2-0 up against Indy Eleven in the first game of the season, Memphis has now conceded seven goals without reply. It’s a cause for concern, but the next few games should provide a clearer picture of whether this is a long-term issue. Doyle was imperious after signing for Memphis last season, while fullbacks Mark Segbers and Rece Buckmaster are both new to the squad. Defenses take time to gel properly, but it will have to be quick in the USL’s new format. With Carroll suspended for Saturday’s game against Atlanta United 2, we may see Marc Burch return to the starting XI; his veteran experience should be useful for a disorganized Memphis backline.

photo by Eric Glemser

Centerback Liam Doyle (left) and Howard tussle with Birmingham forward Brian Wright.

On the offensive end, Memphis put only one shot on target. Last year’s top scorer Brandon Allen uncharacteristically blazed over the bar from inside the six-yard box in the first half, while Duane Muckette also blasted high a presentable chance. On a positive note, new signing Cal Jennings came on in place of Allen in the 62nd minute for his first professional appearance. The forward gamely challenged for balls up top, making his presence felt, getting into the box, and holding up play well to bring other runners into the attack. It was a decent cameo for the Central Florida graduate, and has me excited for what he might be able to produce at this level.

The poor performance can hopefully be attributed to a prolonged absence of play for a side still bedding in many new players. But with matches every few days, there’s not a whole lot of time to adjust. Tomorrow, 901 FC visits Atlanta United 2; our opponents are coming off their own loss (2-1 to the Tampa Bay Rowdies), but since they played a man down for almost the entire game, it’s hard to gauge what kind of threat they’ll pose to Memphis. Last season, 901 FC lost its home match against Atlanta 1-0, but won away 2-1.

In other news, AutoZone Park has received approval to allow a limited number of fans back into the stadium for home matches. With proper social distancing and safety regulations, about 1,000 fans should be able to attend matches and cheer on the squad.

Memphis 901 FC plays Atlanta United 2 away on Saturday, July 18, at 6:30 p.m.

Birmingham Legion 3 – 0 Memphis 901 FC highlights can be viewed here

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Sports Sports Feature

Down to the Wire for 901 FC After Frustrating Loss to Charlotte

CREDIT: Memphis 901 FC

I’m not one to promote Grit and Grind as the be-all and end-all of Memphis professional sporting strategy, but if there’s ever a time for it, it’s now. 901 FC’s frustrating 2-1 loss to the Charlotte Independence, marred by some egregious officiating and the proverbial red mist, means that chances of qualifying for the playoffs are slim at best. Is it a long shot? Absolutely. But is it still possible? Absolutely. Soccer arguably possesses the greatest capacity for upsets in professional sports, so it’s pedal to the metal during the last week of the regular season.

Memphis 901 FC

Captain Marc Burch and the Memphis defense couldn’t keep Charlotte off the scoresheet at AutoZone Park.


Considering how damaging last weekend’s game was, the less said, the better. Everything unraveled in a short span between minutes 74 and 77. The first half had seen some overall sloppy play (lack of communication, missed passes) that culminated in a wide open Jorge Herrera poking a rebound beyond goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell to give Charlotte the lead. But as I’ve said before, this is a much-changed Memphis from earlier this year, so the second half saw a fire-and-brimstone approach to getting all three points.

And it was a few recurring names from the past few weeks that had the team agonizingly close to a comeback. Cam Lindley kickstarted the move after playing a penetrating ball to Marcus Epps in the Charlotte penalty area. The forward then bamboozled his marker with a deft Maradona spin to draw a penalty, which Brandon Allen duly converted for his ninth goal of the campaign for Memphis. That, however, was the last positive moment of the game. In his exuberance to lead the comeback, Allen got into a tussle with Charlotte goalkeeper Brandon Miller when trying to take the ball to the halfway line. Despite this being quite a common occurrence in any soccer league around the world, referee John Griggs deemed Allen’s conduct to be too much, and brandished a red card in the 75th minute.

Two minutes later, Charlotte scored what would be the winning goal on a set piece after Caldwell misjudged the flight of the ball. With Memphis now needing two goals while down a man, Griggs permanently turned himself into persona non grata in Bluff City when he inexplicably failed to call a penalty after Miller blatantly brought down Wes Charpie in the box. The miserable night was compounded when Pierre da Silva received a red card for shoving an opponent at the throat.

So, where does all that leave Memphis? There are some razor-thin margins over the final two games, with zero margin for error. The team needs to procure the maximum six points (without Allen and da Silva next game, who will be serving one-match suspensions) against Charleston Battery away tomorrow and at home against Louisville City on Saturday. In addition, both direct qualification rivals Charleston and Birmingham Legion would each need to lose their two remaining fixtures. That scenario would see all teams holding 40 points, with Memphis emerging on top due to tiebreakers (total wins and goal differential). It’s not an ideal scenario, but it’s not over until the final whistle blows. Regardless, AutoZone Park better be packed this weekend.


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Memphis Gaydar News

Memphis 901 FC Hosts Pride Night

CREDIT: Memphis 901 FC

Memphis 901 FC

Memphis 901 FC hosts its first Pride Night on Saturday, June 8th to help raise awareness for OUTMemphis and the Bluff City Sports Association.

The 901 FC takes on Indy Eleven that night at AutoZone Park in an event “aimed to benefit community groups serving all Memphians regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender expression, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status.”

Here’s what’s on tap for the evening:

The Bluff City Mafia, 901 FC’s recognized supporters group, will host a pre-match Pride March beginning at The Brass Door and ending at AutoZone Park prior to kickoff.

Molly Quinn and Stephanie Bell of OUTMemphis will serve as the night’s honorary captains while Chris Balton, former North America Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance commissioner, will be the guest of honor for Memphis’ pre-match guitar smash.

In addition, Memphis 901 FC forward Jochen Graf will participate in the Athlete Alley’s Playing for Pride campaign. Hundreds of soccer players have taken part in the campaign aimed at supporting LGBTQ rights.

Throughout the month of June, Graf, players, and fans can donate to Playing for Pride for every game played, every assist, and every goal scored. In the past, those donations have been matched with donations exceeding $25,000.

Tickets:

Tickets start at $15. For $30, you can get a sideline ticket and pretty baller hat. Get your tickets online or by calling (901) 721-6000.

Bluff City Sports Association, Inc. is nonprofit organization aimed to provide a safe environment for the LGBTQ community and friends of the LGBTQ community to participate in sports.

OUTMemphis is a nonprofit that empowers, connects, educates and advocates for the LGBTQ community of the Mid-South.

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Sports Sports Feature

901 FC Just Miss Out in New Jersey Thriller

CREDIT: 901 FC

It wasn’t quite the happy homecoming Memphis coach Tim Mulqueen was hoping for, but in terms of entertainment, this game turned out to be a dead ringer. With the score 2-1 in favor of New York Red Bulls II after a topsy-turvy first half, the broadcast displayed the scores from six concurrent USL games, all reading 0-0. Thanks for making sure we get our money’s worth, 901 FC. 901 FC

Marc Burch

Like any good road thriller, the drama has to start pregame. Close to kick-off, defender Wes Charpie pulled out with an injury, which forced Mulqueen to shuffle his pack. Abdi Mohamed jumped over to right-back, while Trinidadian international Tristan Hodge filled in at left-back.

Despite the loss, Memphis played a great game. New York held possession in the early stages and pressed the 901 FC defense and midfield, forcing a few turnovers that ultimately proved fruitless for the home team. It was a bold decision to try and play their way out of the high press. But if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. And Memphis tried, tried again, and it paid off emphatically in the 11th minute. Morgan Hackworth received a pass in the Red Bulls’ 18 and fizzed a low cross through the box which found its way to Duane Muckette, who would have been perfectly entitled to take a crack on goal. Instead, he played a first-time ball back into the center of the box to the elusive Adam Najem, who directed the ball into the net with his knee. Alas, what could have been a springboard for a second straight road victory unraveled just a few minutes later.

Overall, it was another good showing from the defense, but the last-minute changes may have played a part in the few concessions Memphis gave up. In the 18th minute, New York was able to get a cross into the box, and Jared Stroud arrived to hit a first-time volley past Jeff Caldwell to equalize. That was probably Mohamed’s man to cover, but the 901 FC defense had been sucked over to one side of the field. Stroud was completely unmarked inside Memphis’ six-yard box. If you leave someone that open, you’re going to get punished. When there are changes in the backline, Burch and Pratzner need to be in constant communication with their fullbacks to make sure mistakes like that don’t happen.

With the score tied at 1-1, the game opened up. Memphis pressed more men forward in attack, leading to a great sequence in the 29th minute that wreaked havoc on the New York defense. Mulqueen’s really done a job of drilling into his players the most appropriate times to press high and keep possession and this sequence, full of several shots and good interplay in the final third, illustrated that perfectly.

At the other end, having a goalkeeper like Caldwell pays dividends when pushing more men forward. Whenever the Red Bulls threatened on the break, he read plays well and was quick off his line to smother any potential chances. Unfortunately, it was New York who ended the half with the advantage. In the first period of stoppage time, Caldwell parried a dangerous low cross straight to Tom Barlow, who only had to direct the rebound on target.

Memphis came out strong in the second half, with Muckette and Burch both having presentable chances. Dally became a little more involved as well, turning on the jets to beat defenders with ease. New York weathered the storm and added a third in the 56th minute, Derrick Etienne capitalizing on a Hodge’s weak headed clearance to drive a shot past Caldwell. At that point, you might expect 901 FC players’ heads to drop. One commentator even suggested that Memphis might go for damage limitation.

Pure folly! Four minutes later, Marc Burch smashed a free-kick past New York’s Evan Louro in goal, and Memphis was back in the game. At that point, you just had to throw your hands up and see which way it would go. Both teams hit the post, New York searching for an insurance goal and Memphis desperately trying to find an equalizer. As the game wore on, Memphis opened up more at the back. But by that point, Caldwell had finished erecting a brick wall in front of his net and kept out everything New York threw at him. He inexplicably managed to save from Etienne from only six yards out, and then did one even better in the 95th minute.

With the game pretty much over, Barlow drew a penalty in the box. Stroud stepped up to put a little gloss on the scoreline, but Caldwell tipped the shot around the post. A disappointing result, but a fantastic performance by Memphis. Mulqueen’s men created a lot of chances and could have added a few more if they were a bit sharper with their finishing. After the result, 901 FC is 10th in the Eastern Conference standings on four points. The final match of their three-game road trip comes against North Carolina on April 6th.

Quick Notes

*Adam Najem is truly a classy player. Whenever he has time on the ball, he makes things happen on the offensive side of the game. He moved well in the box to score early, and it was his reverse pass that sparked Memphis’ 29th hectic 29th minute sequence. Play needs to run through him to optimize 901 FC’s chances for victory. Look out for more of his link-up play with Muckette in the midfield.

*Defensive midfield is usually an under appreciated position, so let’s take a few minutes to applaud the efforts of Ewan Grandison. He was all over the field yesterday, helping facilitate the ball forward and putting out fires whenever the Red Bulls ramped up the pressure.

*Sometimes you just don’t get the breaks. Two sloppy defensive mistakes handed New York two goals. On another day, Mohamed tracks his runner, or Hodge makes a more authoritative clearance.

*Another game, another slew of amazing Jeff Caldwell saves. That should put some doubt into opposing attackers’ heads in the games ahead.

*901 FC has put in some pretty terrific performances on the road, especially for a new team. Local fans should be enthused by what they see, and expect a rocking atmosphere when the boys come home to face Atlanta United II on April 10th.

*At several points during the stream, the camera went of focus, leading to a screen full of blurred colors and inscrutable images. Just a reminder, ESPN, that I’m paying for your service. Get it together!