Tag: Tim Howard

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Midfielder Kadeem Dacres Joins Memphis 901 FC Roster

CREDIT: Hayden Schiff from Cincinnati, USA, CC BY 2.0

This afternoon, Memphis 901 FC announced the signing of veteran midfielder Kadeem Dacres pending league and federation approval.

The midfielder has eight years of USL experience under his belt, with time spent at clubs such as Arizona United (now known as Phoenix Rising), Louisville City SC, FC Cincinnati, and most recently Saint Louis FC. Hayden Schiff from Cincinnati, USA, CC BY 2.0

Kadeem Dacres during a U.S. Open Cup match for FC Cincinnati in 2017

During the course of his career, Dacres has logged 176 appearances and more than 10,000 minutes, and holds a tally of 18 goals and seven assists.

“Kadeem will provide us with pace and a constant attacking threat on the wing as well as a high work rate,” said 901 FC sporting director Tim Howard. “His ability and high-level experience in the USL make him an exciting addition to our roster.”

Dacres joins new signing, goalkeeper John Berner, as well as returnees Mark Segbers, Dan Metzger, and Zach Carroll.

And here’s a sample of what the midfielder can do.

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Memphis 901 FC Signs Goalkeeper John Berner

CREDIT: By Noah Salzman - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61396917

Memphis 901 FC added yet another name to its burgeoning roster for the upcoming 2021 USL season.

The latest acquisition is goalkeeper John Berner, pending league and federation approval.

The ’keeper began his professional career when selected 35th in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft by the Colorado Rapids, where he made five appearances before joining USL affiliate Charlotte Independence on loan. Berner made 38 appearances for the club, and kept 12 clean sheets over the course of the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

By Noah Salzman – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61396917

John Berner warms up during a 2017 appearance with the Colorado Rapids

“The club is thrilled to be adding a player of John’s experience and quality to the roster,” said sporting director Tim Howard. “He’s a proven shot-stopper with both MLS and USL experience, and we are looking forward to having him with us this season.”

Since playing for Charlotte, Berner has racked up USL experience with Phoenix Rising, Oklahoma City Energy FC, and most recently with Saint Louis FC last season.

Berner joins the squad alongside returnees Zach Carroll, Mark Segbers, and Dan Metzger.

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Zach Carroll Renews Contract with Memphis 901 FC

CREDIT: Photo courtesy Memphis 901 FC

Photo courtesy Memphis 901 FC

Zach Carroll is the third 901 FC player to officially return to AutoZone Park for the 2021 season.

The pieces are starting to come together for Memphis 901 FC’s 2021 roster.

Today, sporting director Tim Howard announced that center back Zach Carroll has signed a new contract with the organization for the upcoming USL season (pending league approval).

“Bringing Zach back was always a priority for us heading into the 2021 season,” Howard said in a press release. “He helped anchor the backline last year and will bring a wealth of experience and leadership back to the team. His return will be key as we continue building our roster for the season.”

Carroll played in 13 matches last season, with 11 of them coming as starts. In all, he played 1,012 minutes, made 19 tackles, won 67 percent of his aerial challenges, and led the team in clearances. He is also able to provide an attacking threat from set pieces.

He joins full back Mark Segbers and midfielder Dan Metzger as official returnees for the upcoming season. Memphis 901 FC will compete in the Eastern Conference’s Central Division.

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Still Kicking: 901 FC’s Strange and Disappointing Season Ends

CREDIT: Eric Glemser

The early aughts of the 2020 United Soccer League (USL) season held so much promise: a more settled squad full of Coach Tim Mulqueen’s preferred players; Tim Howard coming out of retirement to split goalkeeping duties with Jimmy Hague; and a rowdy bunch of fans ready to take in the season at one of the league’s best stadiums in AutoZone Park.

While the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to USL for a few months, a return to action saw a familiar pattern emerge. Quick starts and heavy spells of possession would be foiled by late concessions, turning winning positions into draws and losses. Placed in Group G against regional rivals Birmingham Legion, Charlotte Independence, and North Carolina FC, Memphis embodied the Jekyll & Hyde nature of sports. Verve and aggression in the early stages of matches would give way to sloppy defending and calamitous mistakes, with the team racking up one loss after another.

Eric Glemser

901 FC celebrates a final day victory.

Coach Mulqueen’s high press would work for 45 minutes, but as the game stretched on, it crumbled. Opponents would easily break through the pressure in the second half and create enough high-quality chances to seize a result from Memphis’ grasp. The defense was also prone to individual errors at times. Centerback Liam Doyle (later shipped out to San Antonio) was a shadow of himself from last season, while Captain Marc Burch missed a lot of games with back spasms.

Up top, the goals dried up for last season’s top scorer Brandon Allen, with the onus falling on new signing Keanu Marsh-Brown to carry the offense through parts of the season. Ultimately, a run of only two wins in 12 matches saw Mulqueen sacked, putting an end to 901 FC’s first chapter.

Assistant coach Ben Pirmann acted as interim manager for the team’s last three matches, overseeing an uptick in fortunes with two wins. By then, Memphis’ hopes of a playoff spot were long gone, but the positive performances should provide a blueprint for next season. But what does 901 FC need to fix?

The emergence of Cal Jennings as a locked-in starter, with nine goals in 14 appearances, means the team has to do everything in its power to retain him for next season. Keanu Marsh-Brown is always an electric presence, and provides incision, hard running, and even a healthy dose of defensive diligence. In midfield, new signing Jose Baxter also missed much of the season, but supplies a level of class and awareness complemented by Duane Muckette’s all-around excellence and Leston Paul’s steel (it’s unknown whether Tommy McCabe will be available for another loan spell).

Defensively, there needs to be improvement. While Memphis’ haul of 24 goals scored put it about on par with the rest of Group G (and middle of the pack in the entire Eastern Conference), the defense was another matter. At 31, Memphis had the fifth-highest number of goals conceded in the East, and kept only one clean sheet. Those numbers just aren’t good enough for a team hoping to qualify for the playoffs. Pirmann’s tweaks, however, showed that the squad already has the quality to tighten things up.

But there are even bigger questions to answer. Who will be the next head coach? Pirmann didn’t do his chances any harm, but the sooner the organization can place someone in charge, the better. Burch announced his retirement, while Howard’s new analyst role for NBC Sports makes it unlikely we’ll see him back in goal. Meanwhile, Pierra Da Silva, Rafa Mentzingen, Jean-Christophe Koffi, and Mark Segbers didn’t appear in the squad again after violating unspecified team rules in late September. Mentzingen and Segbers were two of 901 FC’s better performers throughout the season, but it remains to be seen whether they have a future in Memphis.

It’s not the season anyone wanted. While many of the results were close, the consistency of errors meant that the losses couldn’t be put down to luck. The last few matches of this bizarre pandemic season, however, provide a glimmer of hope that this squad is indeed capable of challenging in the playoffs. You can bet Craig Unger, Howard, et al. are hard at work to put the right pieces in place.

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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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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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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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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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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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901 FC Learns Group Opponents for Regular Season Return

CREDIT: photo courtesy Memphis 901 FC

With the United Soccer League (USL) season set to return on July 11, 901 FC learned its placement in the league’s provisional format for the remainder of the 2020 season. Set in Group G, the team will compete against Birmingham Legion, Charlotte Independence, and North Carolina FC.

“This group will be great for our club, our fans, and our supporters as we form strong regional rivalries with these teams,” says 901 FC President Craig Unger. “We are excited to see our full schedule and return to the pitch.”

photo courtesy Memphis 901 FC

Goalkeeper and part-owner Tim Howard gives instructions during the season opener against Indy Eleven

The new USL format sees teams separated into eight groups based on region. Each squad will play a total of 16 regular season matches, including matches played before the league was suspended on March 12th. Factoring in the season opener against Indy Eleven, Memphis will play only 15 more regular season games. That means 901 FC will face off with each team in its group four times for its first 12 games. The remaining three matches, according to the USL, will be played against “teams that fall within a similar geographic region” (this is speculation only, but potential matchups for these games could include Saint Louis FC, Atlanta United 2, or Louisville City FC).

Schedules will be balanced to feature eight home and away games, but that may change for some organizations based on venue availability due to COVID-19. The top two teams from each group will advance to the playoffs, with group winners paired against runners-up in the round of 16.

The rest of the regular season will be played over a 13-week span set to conclude on the weekend of October 2nd-4th. The USL is expected to release a full schedule with dates and times in the next few weeks.

In addition to the group format, the return to play will feature some temporary rule changes. The number of available substitutions per match jumps from three to five, although coaches will have only three opportunities to make their five substitutions (a halftime sub will not count against total opportunities).

901 FC’s Group G opponents finished above Memphis in the 2019 Eastern Conference standings:

7. North Carolina FC (56 points)

10. Birmingham Legion FC (43 points)

13. Charlotte Independence (38 points)

15. Memphis 901 FC (34 points)

In head-to-head matchups, Memphis came away with two draws and four losses. However, each loss was by only a single goal.

Before the season was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, Memphis showed positive signs in a 2-4 home loss to Indy Eleven.