Albuquerque, NM. (Oct. 26, 2024) — Memphis 901 FC grabbed a 3-2 victory over No. 1 New Mexico United to secure their third consecutive top-four finish and home field advantage in the first round of the USL Championship Playoffs.
901 FC will host a Western Conference Quarterfinal at AutoZone Park on Saturday, November 2 at 1 p.m. CT with the opponent to be determined later Saturday night. Pending results elsewhere in the Western Conference, Memphis could finish as high as No. 2 in the division marking the club’s highest regular season finish since 2022.
Bruno Lapa recorded two assists in Saturday’s victory setting up Jon Bakero and Samuel Careaga for goals before Lucas Turci subbed in and delivered a spectacular strike into the back of the net to finish the match.
Bakero notched his first goal as a Beale Street Boy and second consecutive goal contribution after assisting Dylan Borczak in last week’s victory. New Mexico found an equalizer in the 20th minute, but Memphis would roar back five minutes later thanks to Samuel Careaga. Careaga’s solo run through the defense for his eighth goal of the season. Turci’s goal in the 63rd minute came off the left foot from 30 yards out to beat the keeper.
Memphis is now unbeaten in their last 12 matches after leading at halftime and will return home for the postseason to defend a 13-match unbeaten streak at AutoZone Park.
The USL Championship Playoffs Kickoff with the Conference Quarterfinal round next weekend. Playoff opponent info will be updated on the club’s official postseason website at the conclusion of regular season competition on Saturday, October 26.
POSTGAME QUOTE SHEET
Memphis 901 FC vs. New Mexico United | October 26, 2024 – Isotopes Park
HEAD COACH STEPHEN GLASS
On tonight’s performance:
“I think we knew what it was going to take. We knew we had to win. I wouldn’t say we gambled by any means but we were very controlled in our play. We went ahead early, got a little setback, but I think we truly deserved to win. At the end we were hanging on almost. I’m delighted with what we got tonight.”
On finishing the season with two crucial wins on the road:
“The last two weeks the message was we knew we had to go get close to six points. We knew walking into tonight we needed to win. It speaks volumes of the players in the last two weeks in Phoenix and New Mexico to come away with six points. It sums up the resilience they’ve shown all season and what the players and staff have achieved has been nothing short of incredible.”
On getting a home playoff match:
“We know that everyone that comes to Memphis now is going to want to knock us off of our perch. We’ll be ready for it just like we have been the last two weeks on the road and we’ll do whatever it takes to win a playoff game. If we can get a big crowd behind us and make it hostile, not a lot of teams will have a response for what’s on the pitch and in the stands.”
On the message to the rest of the league:
“I think we’re sitting here knowing we’re third at a minimum and it’s a huge achievement. We had a blip at the start of the year but I spoke to the players on the pitch after. Even before the ball was kicked this year people were telling us we’re not going to be in the playoffs. We’ve been moved to the west and probably have the most air miles in the whole league and the players have had very little respect given to them, but the performance level is nothing short of incredible. They deserve a home playoff game and hopefully there’s more than one.”
For more information on Memphis 901 FC, visit https://www.memphis901fc.com and follow the club on social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
###
Joshua Clayton – Manager, Communications and Media Relations
