Memphis, Tenn. – The fight for the top of standings continues this Friday as Memphis 901 FC travels to face Louisville City FC in a battle of No. 1 and No. 2 in the Eastern Conference standings.
Memphis moved to 18-7-4 on the season after a dominant 5-0 win over Charleston Battery and look to use their momentum in the match Friday night. 901 FC maintained their No. 2 spot against the Battery with two early goals from Phillip Goodrum, moving him to 19 on the season and second in the race for the golden boot, followed by a Goodrum assist to Laurent Kissiedou on a Goal of the Month nominee sequence. Zach Carroll and Nighte Pickering each scored a goal after coming on as reserves to seal the victory.
901 FC currently sit five points behind first place Louisville City FC with five matches left in the regular season and a match in hand to the conference leaders. With the eastern conference playoff spots filled, Memphis looks to solidify a top four position and challenge Louisville for the No. 1 seed.
Memphis 901 FC is enjoying the best form in the league +9 goal differential over the last two matches and have suffered only two losses on the road this season and are unbeaten in their last six away matches. The club boasts the second best goal differential (+13) while leading the league with only nine goals conceded all season away from AutoZone Park.
Louisville sits at the top of the table in the East with 63 points and four matches to play. Coming off of a 4-2 win over Loudoun United FC on Saturday night, Louisville has conceded only 24 goals this season and have tallied 14 clean sheets, while scoring 59 goals.
901 FC suffered a 2-1 loss to Louisville City in the first matchup between the two clubs this season on July 16 with two goals from Brian Ownby and a goal from Goodrum.
The Beale St. Boys will be without captain Leston Paul, who is on international duty with the Trinidad & Tobago national team.
Memphis is looking to record their first win at Lynn Family Stadium and bring the conference lead within two points with the post season just around the corner.
Quotables
“We just need to move on and just get ready for Louisville which will be extremely tough. We know how good they are on the road especially. We’ll be ready. We just have to keep doing things the right way. We’re sticking to our principles and sticking to our philosophies. If we do things as a team, you can plug and play a little bit. We love these players and if we do things the right way they’re going to thrive.” – Ben Pirmann
“I think we’re going for first place. We know next weekend is a cup final for us. We’re playing Louisville who’s in first and we’re in second. Everything’s on the line. There’s not going to be much needed to be said because we’re all motivated to get the top spot. We control our own destiny and this team doesn’t need any extra motivation.” – Phillip Goodrum
History in the Making..
Memphis 901 FC is currently enjoying their best season since its start in the Bluff City in 2019. After a playoff appearance last season, the club has established itself as a title contender. The battle at the top of the Eastern Conference has only intensified entering the final stretch of the season. 901 FC sits at second in the Eastern Conference with five matches remaining in the regular season, including the September 23 rematch against No. 1 Louisville City FC.
Road Warriors…
Memphis 901 FC have suffered only two losses on the road this season and are unbeaten in their last six away matches. The club boasts the second best goal differential (+13) while leading the league with only nine goals conceded all season away from AutoZone Park.
The Race for the Golden Boot…
Phillip Goodrum has been the jet fuel as the man up top for one of the most dangerous attacking teams in the league. The forward has netted 19 goals this season, currently sitting in second in the usl championship and has been named player of the week twice this season. Memphis is unbeaten in 14 of the 15 matches Goodrum found the back of the net, including his first career hat trick in a 4-0 victory over atlanta united 2. The Tennessee native scored five goals in the last two matches.
Goals Scored Leaderboard:
1 – Milan Iloski – 19
2 – Phillip Goodrum – 17
3 – Hadji Barry – 16
T4 – Ottar Magnus Karlsson – 15
T4 – Leo Fernandes – 15
The Distributors…
Memphis 901 FC boasts one of the league’s most dynamic duos in the midfield with Aaron Molloy and Jeremy Kelly. Molloy has made his hay as the squad’s primary kicktaker, leading the USL with 10 assists. Kelly has been at the center of the 901 FC attack since moving from the back line this season, currently tied for sixth most assists in the USL with eight. Kelly was tabbed as the USL Championship Player of the Month in May after a stretch of three goals and three assists in four victories for 901 FC.
Assists Leaderboard:
1 – Aaron Molloy – 10
T2 – Cameron Lindley – 9
T2 – Kenardo Forbes – 9
T2 – Hadji Berry – 9
T2 – Antoine Hoppenot – 8
T6 – Jeremy Kelly – 8
Set Piece Superstar…
Aaron Molloy has made his name as one of the most dangerous legs from the set piece in the USL championship. Seven of the midfielder’s 10 assists this season have come off of the set piece, but not before scoring his first goal of the season on a free kick strike from 20 yards out against Oakland roots on march 19. Molloy currently sits fourth in chances created with 64 this season and first in the league standings with his 10 assists.
