Game Previews

Memphis 901 FC returns to the Bluff City looking to get back into the win column after their first loss since March 18 when San Antonio FC comes to town.

The Friday night matchup features two of the most dangerous attacking sides in the USL Championship with both Memphis and San Antonio coming in as the top two goal scoring clubs so far this season.

Memphis looks to grab three points at home after suffering their first road loss of the season last Saturday at Phoenix. The loss snapped a club-record 12-game unbeaten streak and dropped the regular season record to 8-3-4 with 28 points this season. 

The Beale St. Boys sit at No. 4 in the Eastern Conference just three points behind the top three teams in the table.

Coming off a 3-1 home victory over Birmingham Legion with goals for Justin Dhillon, Jorge Hernandez and Tani Oluwaseyi, San Antonio looks to grab three points to climb from their No. 3 spot in the Western Conference behind Sacramento and El Paso. 

Friday’s match is set for a 7:30 p.m. CT kickoff and is available to stream live on ESPN+ and WMC Bounce 5.2 locally.

On the Come Up

After two losses at home to start the season, Memphis 901 FC climbed the table with a 12-match unbeaten streak in the USL Championship with a +18 goal differential in that time span. The run is the longest unbeaten streak in club history.

Memphis sits at No. 4 in the Eastern Conference with 28 points and at least two matches in hand over each team in the division.

Electric Attack

Friday’s match features two of the top attacking sides in the league between Memphis 901 FC and San Antonio FC.

Memphis is the only club in the USL Championship to average 2 goals per match and is the top scoring offense with 30 goals in 15 matches. San Antonio has poured in 31 goals in 17 matches.

Goals per match:

1. Memphis – 2.00
2. Sacramento – 1.82
3. San Antonio  – 1.76

Spreading the Wealth

Memphis hasn’t missed a step even with injuries to key players this season. 901 FC has had 12 different players find the back of the net and 11 assist others in scores this year.

Instant Impact

Versatile veteran Rodrigo da Costa joined Memphis 901 FC in a midseason acquisition, bringing his knack for scoring and distribution to one of the most dangerous attacking sides in the league.

The Brazilian international leads Memphis 901 FC with six goals to go with three assists this season.

Score One for the Newcomer

Former top league midfielder Emerson Hyndman was called into the starting lineup for the first time in the club’s 4-0 victory over Tulsa last week, delivering the highlight of the night with a perfect one-touch strike into the back of the net from 30 yards out.

The Dallas, Texas native brings National Team, Scottish Premiership and MLS experience to a talented Memphis roster after playing a starting role for Head Coach Stephen Glass with Atlanta United.

Chances on Chances on Chances

Memphis now has two of the top creators in the league in Aaron Molloy and Rodrigo da Costa. Molloy and da Costa rank in the top-5 in chances created as Memphis stands toward the top in almost every offensive team metric.

Chances Created Leaderboard:

1. Charlie Dennis – 42
2. Aaron Molloy – 41
3. Taylor Davila – 38
4. Jack Gurr – 36
5. Rodrigo da Costa – 34

The Kid is Cooking

Nighte Pickering has proven himself to be a dangerous presence near opposition final thirds. The 18-year-old striker has poured in four goals to go with three assists in USL competition along with his game-winning goal in the U.S. Open Cup victory over Atlanta United.

Pickering scored two goals in seven appearances in 2022, including a bicycle kick goal on debut, before being called up to the U.S. U-19 Youth National Team in the offseason.

After capturing seven points in seven days with two victories last week, including a toppling of the top team in the Eastern Conference, Memphis 901 FC sets their sights on conquering the west, starting with a trip to face Phoenix Rising FC.

Memphis fights to extend their unbeaten streak to 13 in the USL Championship Game of the Week televised nationally on ESPN 2 and broadcast on Sirius XM.

The Beale St. Boys look to protect their unblemished record on the road as they’ve come out victorious in four of their five matches away from AutoZone Park this season with a league-best +8 goal differential.

Memphis sits at No. 2 in the Eastern Conference with an 8-2-4 record and +14 goal differential, the best in the division and second best in the league behind only Sacramento.

Rece Buckmaster and company will look to silence Manuel Arteaga and Phoenix Rising, who sit at No. 8 in the Western Conference with one victory in their last five matches. Arteaga shares the league lead with nine goals on 32 shots this season. 

Buckmaster made his 100th USL regular season appearance in Saturday’s match and leads a Memphis back line that has conceded only 10 goals in their 12-match unbeaten streak.

901 FC will be without Head Coach Stephen Glass with a one-game suspension after a red card in the club’s victory over Charleston. Assistant Coaches Mark Spalding and Caleb Patterson-Sewell will fill in on the sideline.

Quotables

“Morale is high. The culture here we’ve built in training, everyone is fighting for a spot everyday. It’s always a next guy up opportunity and if there’s an opportunity, guys are going to come in to help the team win. It’s a lot of fun. It’s a great group of guys. Everyone’s pushing each other and wants the best for the next man so we’re fighting for one another and doing our best to win. We’re taking each game as it comes.” – Drew Romig

“With this group of guys that we have with the coaching staff and everybody, I think we can push those limits even more to do better than we did last year. We want to go to the Eastern Conference Final, win that and go to the USL Championship Final. That’s everyone’s goal here and everyone is locked in on doing that.” – Rece Buckmaster

On the Come Up

After two losses at home to start the season, Memphis 901 FC is undefeated in their last 11 USL Championship matches with a +18 goal differential in that time span. The run is the longest unbeaten streak in club history.

Memphis is climbing up the Eastern Conference table at No. 2 with 28 points and at least two games in hand over each team in the Eastern Conference.

Instant Impact

Versatile veteran Rodrigo da Costa joined Memphis 901 FC in a midseason acquisition, bringing his knack for scoring and distribution to one of the most dangerous attacking sides in the league.

The Brazilian international scored two goals with an assist last week and leads Memphis 901 FC with six goals to go with two assists this season.

Score One for the Newcomer

Former top league midfielder Emerson Hyndman was called into the starting lineup for the first time in the club’s 4-0 victory over Tulsa, delivering the highlight of the night with a perfect one-touch strike into the back of the net from 30 yards out.

The Dallas, Texas native brings National Team, Scottish Premiership and MLS experience to a talented Memphis roster after playing a starting role for Head Coach Stephen Glass with Atlanta United.

Chances on Chances on Chances

Memphis now has two of the top creators in the league in Aaron Molloy and Rodrigo da Costa. Molloy and da Costa rank in the top-5 in chances created as Memphis stands toward the top in almost every offensive team metric.

Chances Created Leaderboard:

1. Charlie Dennis – 41
2. Aaron Molloy – 40
3. Jack Gurr – 36
4. Rodrigo da Costa – 33

The Kid is Cooking

Nighte Pickering has proven himself to be a dangerous presence near opposition final thirds. The 18-year-old striker leads the club along with Luiz Fernando and Rodrigo da Costa with four goals to go with three assists in USL competition along with his game-winning goal in the U.S. Open Cup victory over Atlanta United.

Pickering scored two goals in seven appearances in 2022, including a bicycle kick goal on debut, before being called up to the U.S. U-19 Youth National Team in the offseason.

Electric Attack

Memphis leads the USL Championship in goals scored, shots per 90 minutes and is the only club in the league to average over 2 goals per match. The high powered offense is top-5 in final third entries trails only Sacramento in goal differential.

Goals per match:

1. Memphis – 2.14
2. Sacramento – 1.81
3. San Antonio  – 1.75

The Beale St. Prodigy

At 15 years and 149 days old, local academy signing Calvin Harrison became the youngest player to ever appear for Memphis 901 FC in his professional debut last Wednesday.

The high school sophomore signed an academy contract with the club last week after scoring 25 goals in 16 games as a freshman at Hernando High School.

Spreading the Wealth

Memphis hasn’t missed a step even with injuries to key players this season. 901 FC has had 12 different players find the back of the net and 11 assist others in scores this year.

Rece the Reliable

Top defender Rece Buckmaster made his 100th USL Championship regular season appearance in Saturday’s match. Buckmaster has been a reliable piece on the backline during his time in Memphis, playing all but 99 possible minutes for 901 FC during the 2022 season.

The week of returns continues for Memphis on Saturday night at AutoZone Park as they host the Ben Pirmann-led Charleston Battery in a matchup of two top-3 Eastern Conference clubs.

The Beale St. Boys are unbeaten in their last 11 games winners in six of their last seven matches, including an impressive 4-0 rout of FC Tulsa to move up to No. 3 in the Eastern Conference table.

Memphis’ biggest test of the season so far comes at the tail end of a stretch of three matches in seven days with familiar faces looking to temper 901 FC’s rise up the table.

Aaron Molloy, Nighte Pickering and company will look to push past former teammates like Trey Muse and Derek Dodson making their return to AutoZone Park for Ben Pirmann’s side focused on maintaining their position.

Charleston sits at the top of the Eastern Conference with an 8-4-4 overall record and -3 goal differential. Charleston has been strong on the road this season with a 5-1-1 record away from Patriots Point Soccer Stadium, most recently earning a road victory 4-3 over Hartford on Saturday.

At 7-2-4 with 25 points in 13 matches, a victory over Charleston could catapult the Beale St. Boys to the top spot in the Eastern Conference with three games in hand over the visitors.

Kickoff for the matchup is set for 7 p.m. at AutoZone Park. Fans can stream the match live on ESPN+ or WMC Bounce 5.2 locally.

On the Come Up

After two losses at home to start the season, Memphis 901 FC is undefeated in their last 11 USL Championship matches with a +17 goal differential in that time span. The run is the longest unbeaten streak in club history.

Memphis is climbing up the Eastern Conference table at No. 3 with 25 points and at least two games in hand over both Charleston Battery and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC.

Instant Impact

Versatile veteran Rodrigo da Costa joined Memphis 901 FC in a midseason acquisition, bringing his knack for scoring and distribution to one of the most dangerous attacking sides in the league.

The Brazilian international that holds FC Tulsa records for goals and assists has one score and one assist in just four matches with the club so far.

Score One for the Newcomer

Former top league midfielder Emerson Hyndman was called into the starting lineup for the first time in the club’s 4-0 victory over Tulsa, delivering the highlight of the night with a perfect one-touch strike into the back of the net from 30 yards out.

The Dallas, Texas native brings National Team, Scottish Premiership and MLS experience to a talented Memphis roster after playing a starting role for Head Coach Stephen Glass with Atlanta United.

Chances on Chances on Chances

Memphis now has two of the top creators in the league in Aaron Molloy and Rodrigo da Costa. Molloy and da Costa rank in the top-5 in chances created as Memphis stands toward the top in almost every offensive team metric.

Chances Created Leaderboard:

1. Charlie Dennis – 39
2. Aaron Molloy – 38
3. Jack Gurr – 34
4. Rodrigo da Costa – 32

The Kid is Cooking

Nighte Pickering has proven himself to be a dangerous presence near opposition final thirds. The 18-year-old striker leads the club along with Luiz Fernando and Rodrigo da Costa with four goals to go with three assists in USL competition along with his game-winning goal in the U.S. Open Cup victory over Atlanta United.

Pickering scored two goals in seven appearances in 2022, including a bicycle kick goal on debut, before being called up to the U.S. U-19 Youth National Team in the offseason.

Electric Attack

Memphis leads the USL Championship in shots per 90 minutes and expected goals per match (2.00). The high powered offense is top-5 in final third entries and is the only club in the USL Championship to score a goal in every single regular season match this season.

Shots per 90 Leaderboard:

1. Memphis – 13.92
2. El Paso – 13.87
3. San Antonio – 13.60

The Beale St. Prodigy

At 15 years and 149 days old, local academy signing Calvin Harrison became the youngest player to ever appear for Memphis 901 FC in his professional debut on Wednesday.

The high school sophomore signed an academy contract with the club last week after scoring 25 goals in 16 games as a freshman at Hernando High School.

Spreading the Wealth

Memphis hasn’t missed a step even with injuries to key players this season. 901 FC has had 12 different players find the back of the net and 11 assist others in scores this year.

Rece is Mr. Reliable

Top defender Rece Buckmaster is available to make his 100th USL Championship regular season appearance in Saturday’s match. Buckmaster has been a reliable piece on the backline during his time in Memphis, playing all but 99 possible minutes for 901 FC during the 2022 season.

Memphis 901 FC’s stretch of three games in seven days continues on Wednesday night as they host FC Tulsa at AutoZone Park.

The Beale St. Boys put their 10-game unbeaten streak on the line as they battle a strong Tulsa side looking to play spoiler from the bottom of the Eastern Conference table.

Memphis sits at No. 4 in the Eastern Conference with a 6-2-4 record and one of the most overwhelming offenses in the USL Championship. 901 FC ranks in the top-5 of almost every offensive statistic and leads the league in goals per match despite being held scoreless for the first time this season last Saturday.

Tulsa sits at No. 10 in the conference carrying a 2-6-7 record into the mid-week matchup. Memphis grabbed a 2-1 victory in Tulsa on May 19 with goals from Nighte Pickering and Aaron Molloy, giving 901 FC one of their five wins in the past six matches.

Both teams will have a different look, however, from the first matchup between the two clubs with the top goal scoring threats Rodrigo da Costa and Phillip Goodrum switching sides after a mid-season transaction that saw Memphis acquire da Costa along with a transfer fee for Goodrum.

“I’m sure it’s a weird moment for both,” Assistant Coach Caleb Patterson-Sewell said. “They’re both very big players for their ex-clubs and now they’re facing off with their new clubs so it’ll be a special moment for both of them. Really i think you’ll see two good teams playing a game of soccer and hopefully we’ll come out on top with three points.”

Kickoff for the Wednesday matchup is set for 7 p.m. CT. Fans can stream the match live on ESPN+ and watch on WMC Bounce 5.2 locally.

Quotables

“The core group is very strong. New players understand what’s required to be on the team. Once the team starts winning games, it’s tough to get into the team, so players don’t want to come out of it. The competition that you see on the training pitch translates to games.” – Stephen Glass

“They’ll both be a little bit emotional, I would guess on both sides of the coin. They both had great times at the clubs that they left and they’re both looking forward to what’s left with their new clubs. It’ll be nice to see Phillip, he was brilliant for the club when he was here. He was first class. We welcome him back, but we hope he gets beat and it’s the same thing as when any former player comes.” – Stephen Glass

“We just go week to week and game to game. I think that’s the experience of the group. They don’t want to get carried away. It’s easy when you’re doing well and people start thinking about the future and what’s to come instead of thinking about the day to day grind. Our guys have kept their foot on the pedal.” – Caleb Patterson-Sewell

On the Come Up

After two losses at home to start the season, Memphis 901 FC is undefeated in their last 10 USL Championship matches with a +15 goal differential in that time span. The run is the longest unbeaten streak in club history.

Memphis is climbing up the Eastern Conference table at No. 4 with 22 points and at least two games in hand over each of the top-3 clubs in the table.

Score One for the New Guy

Versatile veteran Rodrigo da Costa joined Memphis 901 FC in a midseason acquisition, bringing his knack for scoring and distribution to one of the most dangerous attacking sides in the league.

The Brazilian international that holds FC Tulsa records for goals and assists made his first start for the Beale St. Boys and sealed the 3-1 victory in the 74th minute.

Top Leaguer to the Bluff City

Former top league midfielder Emerson Hyndman will be available to make his AutoZone Park debut for the Beale St. Boys after joining the club last week and playing 26 minutes in the victory over Louisville.

The Dallas, Texas native brings National Team, Scottish Premiership and MLS experience to a talented Memphis roster after playing a starting role for Head Coach Stephen Glass with Atlanta United.

Chances on Chances on Chances

Memphis now has two of the top creators in the league in Aaron Molloy and Rodrigo da Costa. Molloy and da Costa rank in the top-5 in chances created as Memphis stands toward the top in almost every offensive team metric.

Chances Created Leaderboard:

1. Charlie Dennis – 39
2. Aaron Molloy – 37
3. Jack Gurr – 34
4. Rodrigo da Costa – 31

The Kid is Cooking

Nighte Pickering has proven himself to be a dangerous presence near opposition final thirds. Pickering leads the club along with Luiz Fernando and Rodrigo da Costa with four goals to go with three assists in USL competition along with his game-winning goal in the U.S. Open Cup victory over Atlanta United.

Pickering scored two goals in seven appearances in 2022, including a bicycle kick goal on debut, before being called up to the U.S. U-19 Youth National Team in the offseason.

Electric Attack

Memphis leads the USL Championship in shots per 90 minutes and expected goals per match (2.00). The high powered offense is top-5 in final third entries and is the only club in the USL Championship to score a goal in every single regular season match this season.

Shots per 90 Leaderboard:

1. Memphis – 14.25
2. El Paso – 13.87
3. San Antonio – 13.60

Unbeaten in their last eight matches and looking for a franchise record sixth consecutive win, Memphis 901 FC has taken the USL Championship by storm with energetic offense and timely defending resulting in the best run of form in the club’s history.

The run comes at a perfect time for Bluff City soccer fans with the surging Beale St. Boys playing three home matches at AutoZone Park in a span of seven days starting on Saturday against Detroit City FC.

Last time out Memphis put together another comprehensive win, this time a 3-1 defeat of Louisville City FC at Lynn Family Stadium with goals from Nighte Pickering and Rodrigo da Costa. 

The 18-year-old striker and veteran goal creator headline a Memphis attack that leads the league in scoring as the only side that averages over two goals per match and the only team yet to be shut out this season.

Memphis is undefeated in their three matches against Detroit with two victories, including a 3-1 result in the club’s first postseason win in 2022. 

Detroit carries their own unbeaten streak of four games into Saturday’s fixture after a 3-1 victory over Hartford on Wednesday. Goals from Ben Morris and Skage Simonsen lifted Detroit to No. 8 in the Eastern Conference table.

Fans can purchase specialty sideline tickets and receive a 901 FC Pride T-Shirt with proceeds going toward LGBTQ+ non-profit Mid-South Pride. The match set for 7:30 p.m. CT will be broadcast on WMC Bounce 5.2 and ESPN+.

Quotable 

“The quality of Rodrigo and Emerson will be particularly helpful. We’ve been on a good roll but it’s important that we continue. You see teams that have a good spell and then tail off. We want to be right at the top right to the end. We need to do the work to do and the boys that have come here are here to help us do that and you see it in their performances.” – Stephen Glass

“We just look at the next one. We’ve had three-game weeks before and handled it really well. A lot of teams look to really rotate but our players have embraced it. There’s a big competition to start games and the boys that start them want to stay on the pitch.” – Stephen Glass

“The group’s already confident, they’re winning games and on a roll so it makes my life a little bit easier coming in. I know Coach Glass already. He knows what kind of levels I’m trying to reach already. I knew about the group just from watching games and I could see it had a lot of potential. It was a group I wanted to join and i’m really happy to be here.” – Emerson Hyndman

Streak

Memphis 901 FC holds the longest current win streak in the USL Championship with five victories going back to May 6. Memphis boasts a +10 goal differential during the streak.

A victory over Detroit on Saturday would mark a franchise record sixth straight victory, beating the five-match win streak from May 6 to June 4 in 2022.

On the Come Up

After two losses at home to start the season, Memphis 901 FC is undefeated in their last nine USL Championship matches with a +15 goal differential in that time span. The run is the longest unbeaten streak in club history.

Memphis is climbing up the Eastern Conference table at No.4  with 21 points and at least two games in hand over each of the top-3 clubs in the table.

Debut for da Costa

Versatile veteran Rodrigo da Costa joined Memphis 901 FC in a midseason acquisition, bringing his knack for scoring and distribution to one of the most dangerous attacking sides in the league.

The Brazilian international that holds FC Tulsa records for goals and assists made his first start for the Beale St. Boys and sealed the 3-1 victory in the 74th minute.

Top Leaguer to the Bluff City

Former top league midfielder Emerson Hyndman will be available to make his AutoZone Park debut for the Beale St. Boys after joining the club last week and playing 26 minutes in the victory over Louisville.

The Dallas, Texas native brings National Team, Scottish Premiership and MLS experience to a talented Memphis roster after playing a starting role for Head Coach Stephen Glass with Atlanta United.

Chances on Chances on Chances

Memphis now has two of the top creators in the league in Aaron Molloy and Rodrigo da Costa. Molloy and da Costa rank in the top-5 in chances created as Memphis stands toward the top in almost every offensive team metric.

Chances Created Leaderboard:

1. Charlie Dennis – 38
2. Aaron Molloy – 37
3. Jack Gurr – 31
4. Rodrigo da Costa – 29

The Kid is Cooking

Nighte Pickering has proven himself to be a dangerous presence near opposition final thirds. The 18-year-old striker has contributed to four goals his last three starts. Pickering leads the club along with Luiz Fernando and Rodrigo da Costa with four goals and two assists in USL competition along with his game-winning goal in the U.S. Open Cup victory over Atlanta United.

Pickering scored two goals in seven appearances in 2022, including a bicycle kick goal on debut, before being called up to the U.S. U-19 Youth National Team in the offseason.

Electric Attack

Memphis leads the USL Championship in shots per 90 minutes and expected goals per match (2.00). The high powered offense is top-5 in final third entries and is the only club in the USL Championship to score a goal in every single regular season match this season.

Shots per 90 Leaderboard:

1. Memphis – 15.40
2. El Paso – 13.75
3. San Antonio – 13.69

Louisville, KY. – Eyes all across the USL Championship will be on Lynn Family Stadium as Memphis 901 FC faces Louisville City FC on Saturday night.

The Beale St. Boys carry arguably the most momentum of any team of the league with a franchise record eight-match unbeaten streak, five-match road unbeaten streak and four match win streak to show after a rough start to the 2023 season. 901 FC can match the franchise record for consecutive wins with a three-point result on Saturday.

Any doubt on 901 FC’s run of form was laid to rest in a dominant 5-1 victory over Miami FC last time out. The comprehensive performance featured goals from five different players in a tweaked lineup with regular starters unavailable, including the club’s leading goal scorer Luiz Fernando.

Among the goalscorers leading the dangerous attack were Aaron Molloy and Nighte Pickering, who trails Fernando with three goals this season after his chip of the keeper on Saturday. The top of Memphis’ attack leads the league in multiple offensive metrics, including shots and goals per match and will be hunting a Louisville club they drew 1-1 earlier this season.

“We’re looking forward to it. It’s a nice stadium we’re going to play in and a team that’s always at the top end. We know what we’re going into but equally I think they know what’s coming.”

Last time 901 FC did battle in the Bluegrass state came down to the death with a 2-1 Memphis victory thanks to a stoppage time goal from Graham Smith.

Louisville is coming off of a scoreless draw at Hartford Athletic with Brian Ownby scoring in the 29th minute.

Fans can watch the match set for 7 p.m. CT on ESPN+ and WMC Action News 5 Plus locally.

Quotables

“We’ve proven that we’re not one dimensional. We’re not reliant on one particular person to score for us. We’ve shown we can score from set pieces, breakways, cutback, crosses, individual brilliance. I think when you’ve got a group of players that can score from different situations, you;ve got a good team. The main part is they keep working as a group. Saturday night we go into a stadium where we know what we’re walking into. They‘re also aware of what a Memphis team brings and we need to make sure that we do that.” – Stephen Glass

“We’ve played them enough and played them a few weeks ago so we know they’re a good team. We know we have to be clicking to beat them. It’s never easy but it’s a fun game to go play at their stadium. I know all the boys are really looking forward to it.” – Jeremy Kelly

“We understand the big challenge we have this weekend with a good team that has good results at home. We’re ready for this challenge and looking forward to it.” – Bruno Lapa

On the Come Up

After two losses at home to start the season, Memphis 901 FC is undefeated in their last eight USL Championship matches with four wins, three draws and a +11 goal differential in that time span. The run is the longest unbeaten streak in club history.

Memphis is climbing up the Eastern Conference table with 18 points at No. 5 and at least two games in hand over each of the top-5 clubs in the table.

Road Warriors

Memphis 901 FC is one of only three clubs without a loss away from home with a 3-0-1 record on the road this season. The Beale St. Boys suffered only three losses in their 17 matches away from AutoZone Park in the 2022 season and carry a five-match road unbeaten streak into Saturday’s fixture.

Debut for da Costa

Versatile veteran Rodrigo da Costa made his debut for Memphis in Saturday’s match after the midseason acquisition. The Brazilian has already scored three goals and an assist in 10 matches this season and adds his scoring and distribution to an already strong attack.

With over 10,000 career minutes in five seasons of USL competition, da Costa holds Tulsa’s all-time franchise records with 36 goals and 26 assists making starts in multiple positions from center forward to winger. Da Costa recorded nine goals and four assists in 2022 while appearing in all but one match for FC Tulsa with 30 starts. 

The Ultimate Wingman

Winger Luiz Fernando has been a key piece in the eight-match unbeaten streak with four goals and two assists during the club’s run. Fernando put away two goals in the win over Colorado Springs to earn USL Championship Player of the Week after adding game-winning assists vs. Atlanta and Hartford.

The Brazilian winger scored four goals and six assists in 30 appearances in 2022.

Chances on Chances on Chances

Memphis now has two of the top creators in the league in Aaron Molloy and Rodrigo da Costa. Molloy leads the USL Championship in chances created serving as the primary kick taker and captain on the pitch in the absence of Leston Paul due to injury. 

Da Costa joins the Beale St. Boys in the midfield trailing on Molloy and Tampa Bay’s Charlie Dennis in chances created this season.

Chances Created Leaderboard:

1. Aaron Molloy – 36
2. Charlie Dennis – 35
3. Rodrigo da Costa – 29

The Kid is Cooking

Nighte Pickering has proven himself to be a dangerous presence near opposition final thirds. The 18-year-old striker has contributed to four goals his last three starts. Pickering has put away three goals and two assists in USL competition along with his game-winning goal in the U.S. Open Cup victory over Atlanta United.

Pickering scored two goals in seven appearances in 2022, including a bicycle kick goal on debut, before being called up to the U.S. U-19 Youth National Team in the offseason.

Electric Attack

Memphis leads the USL Championship in shots per 90 minutes and expected goals per match (2.00). The high powered offense is top-5 in final third entries and is the only club in the USL Championship to score a goal in every single regular season match this season.

Shots per 90 Leaderboard:

1. Memphis – 15.40
2. El Paso – 13.75
3. San Antonio – 13.69

Memphis 901 FC returns to the pitch after a week away refreshed and ready to take on Miami FC at AutoZone Park on Saturday.

Memphis, unbeaten in their last seven and winners of the four of their last five matches, are ascending on the league table and primed for a big matchup against Kyle Murphy and a strong Miami side in their second meeting of the season.

The Beale St. Boys current strong run of form originally started in the Sunshine state. After two losses to start the season, Memphis played to a 1-1 draw on the road at Miami and haven’t suffered a regular season loss since.

Miami looks to grab their first three-point result since May 3 with losses to Louisville and San Diego before a scoreless draw with Orange County SC last time out.

Memphis Head Coach Stephen Glass will have a new face available for selection after the club acquired veteran midfielder Rodrigo da Costa. The Brazilian carries over 36 goals and 26 assists in five years of USL competition to bolster the top tier 901 FC attack.

“Having Rodrigo in amongst the group at training this week has been pretty valuable,” Head Coach Stephen Glass said. “He knows the group already, he’s excited to come into the group and I think anytime you get a new player you get a little boost. We’re looking forward to seeing what he gives us on the pitch. 

Da Costa joins a strong side with plenty of fellow countrymen such as Bruno Lapa and Luiz Fernando ready to link and create chances.

Saturday’s showdown is set for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. Fans can stream the match live on ESPN+ and watch on WMC Bounce 5.2 locally

Quotables

“We want three points. We want to make our home a fortress. AutoZone Park needs to be a place where people don’t want to come. Three points is the main focus and we’ll do whatever we need to do.” – Akeem Ward

“The four days off really helped us recharge physically and mentally to get back out there and compete for three points. Rodrigo’s been great. He’s known around the league for being a top-class player. He’s acclimated really well. Our training sessions are really difficult and he’s been doing great. I’m sure our fans are excited to see him on Saturday night.” – Aaron Molloy

“The mindset is the same as it’s been. We go into the game on Saturday night trying to win. We know it’s going to be difficult from last time. We showed some resilience to come back and it was the start of our good run. It’s important that they don’t end the good run so that’s the focus for us.” – Stephen Glass

“They don’t lose a lot of goals, they’re a tough team. They generally play a very similar shape but they’re hard to play against, quick on the counter attack, don’t open too many space. But as always we like to focus on what we do. The players have shown that over the last number of weeks and I know they’re keen to get playing again. The break was nice but I know they also enjoy winning matches.” – Stephen Glass

On the Come Up

After two losses at home to start the season, Memphis 901 FC is undefeated in their last seven USL Championship matches with four wins and three draws and a +7 goal differential. The run is the longest unbeaten streak in club history.

Memphis sits at No. 6 in the Eastern Conference with 15 points and at least two games in hand over each of the top-5 clubs in the table.

Debut for da Costa

Versatile veteran Rodrigo da Costa will be available for selection to make his debut for Memphis in Saturday’s match after the midseason acquisition. The Brazilian has already scored three goals and an assist in 10 matches this season and adds his scoring and distribution to an already strong attack.

With over 10,000 career minutes in five seasons of USL competition, da Costa holds Tulsa’s all-time franchise records with 36 goals and 26 assists making starts in multiple positions from center forward to winger. Da Costa recorded nine goals and four assists in 2022 while appearing in all but one match for FC Tulsa with 30 starts. 

The Ultimate Wingman

Winger Luiz Fernando has been a key piece in the seven-match unbeaten streak with four goals and two assists during the club’s run. Fernando put away two goals in the win over Colorado Springs to earn USL Championship Player of the Week after adding game-winning assists vs. Atlanta and Hartford.

The Brazilian winger scored four goals and six assists in 30 appearances in 2022.

Chances on Chances on Chances

Memphis now has two of the top creators in the league in Aaron Molloy and Rodrigo da Costa. Molloy leads the USL Championship in chances created serving as the primary kick taker and captain on the pitch in the absence of Leston Paul due to injury. 

Da Costa joins the Beale St. Boys in the midfield trailing on Molloy and Tampa Bay’s Charlie Dennis in chances created this season.

Chances Created Leaderboard:

1. Aaron Molloy – 33
2. Charlie Dennis – 33
3. Rodrigo da Costa – 28

The Kid is Cooking

Nighte Pickering has proven himself to be a dangerous presence near opposition final thirds. Last time out, the 18-year-old striker had his name called into the starting lineup for the second time this season and answered with a goal and an assist to lift Memphis over Tulsa. Pickering has put away two goals and two assists in USL competition and the game-winning goal in the U.S. Open Cup victory over Atlanta United.

Pickering scored two goals in seven appearances in 2022, including a bicycle kick goal on debut, before being called up to the U.S. U-19 Youth National Team in the offseason.

Electric Attack

Memphis leads the USL Championship in shots per 90 minutes and expected goals per match. The high powered offense is also top-5 in final third entries.

Shots per 90 Leaderboard:

1. Memphis – 15.67
2. San Antonio – 14.25
3. El Paso – 13.55

Memphis 901 FC hits the road carrying a six match unbeaten streak as they take on FC Tulsa at ONEOK Field on Friday, May 19 at 8 p.m. CT.

The Beale St. Boys going into Friday’s matchup with momentum and confidence having not suffered a loss in league since March 18 most recently dispatching Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC with a 2-1 victory at home. 

Memphis has played some of their best matches on the road with a 2-0-1 record and five match unbeaten streak away from AutoZone Park going back to the 2022 season.

At the center of the club’s surge in the last two months is winger Luiz Fernando, who leads the team with four goals and two assists in the league this season. The Brazilian international has scored or assisted a goal in each of the club’s last five USL Championship matches.

Fernando was named USL Championship Player of the Week for regular season week 10 after his two goal performance.

Memphis continues to climb up the Eastern Conference table, sitting at No. 6 with their 3-2-3 record and 12 points in only eight matches.

FC Tulsa currently sits at No. 10 in the Eastern Conference with a 1-3-6 record. Last time out, Tulsa split points with Las Vegas Lights FC, the most recent of three consecutive draws against Sacramento and Detroit City.

Fans can watch the match on WMC Bounce 5.2 locally and ESPN+ nationally.

Quotables

“We’re going on 10 games now and we’re starting to hit our stride now. Picking up on guys’ tendencies, our style of play and what the staff wants, everybody’s just jelling with each other really well. We just want to improve every day and be a really good squad the rest of the year.” – Graham Smith

“The team’s working hard and battling hard. The objective is to win a championship, so it’s a mixture of everyone doing their work and I’m happy to be a part of it.” – Graham Smith

“It’s something I look forward to. Wherever I go, the objective is to defend Memphis and it’s very good when you can get a goal and keep them quiet, but the objective is to make sure the team is doing its best.” – Luiz Fernando

“(Tulsa) will think they’ve not gotten the points on the board that they deserved and that’s always a dangerous opponent. We need to be ready for that. They’ve got a lot of good players and a home game so they’ll be looking to get points on the board pretty quick before they get left behind. We know we’re going to play against an opponent that’s well kept, but I think we always look at ourselves and see what we can do and that’s always going to be our focus.” – Stephen Glass.

On the Come Up

After two losses at home to start the season, Memphis 901 FC is undefeated in their last six USL Championship matches with three wins and three draws and a +6 goal differential. The run is the longest unbeaten streak in club history.

The Ultimate Wingman

Winger Luiz Fernando has contributed to goals in each of the club’s last five league matches with four goals and two assists. Fernando put away two goals in the win over Colorado Springs to earn USL Championship Player of the Week after adding game-winning assists vs. Atlanta and Hartford.

The Brazilian winger scored four goals and six assists in 30 appearances in 2022.

Chances on Chances on Chances

Aaron Molloy leads the USL Championship in chances created and crosses, serving as the primary kick taker and captain on the pitch in the absence of Leston Paul due to injury. The Irish international has played every minute of action for 901 FC in 2023.

Molloy led the team with a franchise-record 10 assists last season on his way to finishing runner–up in USL Championship MVP voting.

Chances Created Leaderboard:

1. Aaron Molloy – 29
2. Charlie Dennis – 25
3. Jack Gurr – 24

The Kid is Cooking

Nighte Pickering has proven himself to be a dangerous presence near opposition final thirds. The 18-year-old striker had his name called into the starting lineup for the first time this season on Saturday and answered with a go-ahead assist in the ninth minute. Pickering has put away a goal and an assist in USL competition and the game-winning goal in the U.S. Open Cup victory over Atlanta United.

Pickering scored two goals in seven appearances in 2022, including a bicycle kick goal on debut, before being called up to the U.S. U-19 Youth National Team in the offseason.

Electric Attack

Memphis leads the USL Championship  in shots per 90 minutes and are top-five in expected goals per 90 and final third entries.

Shots per 90 Leaderboard:

1. Memphis – 15.37
2. Sacramento – 14.78
3. San Antonio – 13.60

Top Billing

Former USMNT and MLS goalkeeper Bill Hamid has made an immediate impact during his time in Memphis as the club has suffered only one loss since his signing. Hamid holds a 76% save rate with 16 saves on 21 shots faced in the USL Championship this season.

“Bill’s a veteran and a good teammate. Clearly, he’s a good shot stopper so I think it gives us an extra level of confidence and trust that we have a guy on our team who’s been there and done that. There’s got to be some level of fearlessness and I think he’ll have that and It’s on the boys to go in and see what we’re made of.” – Phillip Goodrum

Road Warriors

Memphis 901 FC has been strong on the road with a 2-0-1 record this season. The Beale St. Boys suffered only three losses in their 17 matches away from AutoZone Park in the 2022 season and carry a four-match road unbeaten streak into Friday’s fixture.

Memphis 901 FC returns to AutoZone Park this Saturday to welcome Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in an interconference.

Memphis will look to continue their success in interconference play, carrying a nine-match unbeaten streak against Western Conference clubs into the match. The Beale St. Boys last fell to a Western Conference team on October 10, 2021.

901 FC’s seven-match unbeaten streak in 2023 ended on Wednesday night in a 3-0 loss to Birmingham Legion FC in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32. The loss was the club’s first defeat since March 18.

The Switchbacks sit at fourth in the Western Conference through nine games with a 5-3-1 regular season record. Colorado will look to get back in the win column after dropping a tight match 3-2 to El Paso Locomotive FC last Friday

Returning to AutoZone Park to face his former teammates will be former 901 FC defender Patrick Seagrist. Seagrist patrolled the back line in Memphis for 36 appearances in 2022 before moving to the Switchbacks in the offseason.

Memphis defeated Colorado 2-0 last season as Aaron Molloy burst onto the scene with a goal and an assist. Phillip Goodrum scored the second goal off of a Molloy set piece.

Saturday’s match is Wynne Soccer Benefit Night at AutoZone Park, with a portion of box office sales going toward a relief fund for the tornado victims of Wynne High School.

Fans can watch the match on ESPN+ and WMC Bounce 5.2 with kickoff set for 7 p.m. CT.

Quotables

“The biggest part is you’ve got to get back out there Saturday. Anytime you lose, you want another game to come as quickly as it can. We’re fortunate it’s at home and hopefully there’s a big crowd there. We’ve had a good record here, unbeaten in five league matches, which is difficult to do. We get the opportunity to start extending that number in the league.”

“The boys are confident. I think you see it in our play. The boys know we’re five unbeaten in the league and they want to protect that and continue to extend that number.” – Stephen Glass

“You want to get back out there as soon as possible. We’ve got a game on Saturday against a really good, tough opponent. We’re excited to put things right. We want to go put three points on the board and start climbing the table.”  – Aaron Molloy

“You can’t get low when you lose a game and you can’t go too high when you go seven unbeaten. We tried to stay constant, change a few things here and there. Since day one, practice is competitive, guys are working hard. We have a little bit of continuity right now and we hope to keep that going this weekend.” Jeremy Kelly

Settling the West

Memphis 901 FC is unbeaten in their last nine matches against Western Conference clubs with the streak going back to October 10, 2021. 901 FC carried a 6-0-2 record in interconference play in 2022 on its way to the best regular season in club history. 901 FC was the only club in the USL Championship to post an undefeated record in interconference play.

The Ultimate Wingman

Winger Luiz Fernando has contributed to goals in each of the club’s last five matches across the USL Championship and U.S. Open Cup with two goals and three assists. Fernando scored the equalizer in Saturday’s draw vs. Louisville and added game-winning assists vs. Atlanta and Hartford.

The Brazilian winger scored four goals and six assists in 30 appearances in 2022.

Chances on Chances on Chances

Aaron Molloy leads the USL Championship in chances created and crosses, serving as the primary kick taker and captain on the pitch in the absence of Leston Paul due to injury. The Irish international has played every minute of action for 901 FC in 2023.

Molloy led the team with a franchise-record 10 assists last season on his way to finishing runner–up in USL Championship MVP voting.

Chances Created Leaderboard:

1. Aaron Molloy – 28
2. Rodrigo da Costa – 24
3. Charlie Dennis – 23

The Kid is Cooking

Nighte Pickering has proven himself to be a dangerous presence near opposition final thirds. Serving primarily as a reserve deployed as a closer in the second half, the 18-year-old striker has put away two goals in just seven appearances. Pickering most recently scored the game winning goal over Atlanta United in extra time.

Pickering scored two goals in seven appearances in 2022, including a bicycle kick goal on debut, before being called up to the U.S. U-19 Youth National Team in the offseason.

On the Come Up

After two losses at home to start the season, Memphis 901 FC is undefeated in their last five USL Championship matches with a +3 goal differential. Memphis will look for their first victory at AutoZone Park this season in Saturday’s match. 

Electric Attack

Memphis leads the USL Championship  in shots per 90 minutes and are top-five in expected goals per 90 and final third entries.

Shots per 90 Leaderboard:

1. Memphis – 15.14
2. Sacramento – 14.25
3. San Antonio – 13.25

Top Billing

Former USMNT and MLS goalkeeper Bill Hamid notched his second clean sheet of the season on Saturday vs. Hartford with four saves on four shots faced. Hamid holds a 76.5% save rate with 13 saves on 17 shots faced in the USL Championship this season.

“Bill’s a veteran and a good teammate. Clearly, he’s a good shot stopper so I think it gives us an extra level of confidence and trust that we have a guy on our team who’s been there and done that. There’s got to be some level of fearlessness and I think he’ll have that and It’s on the boys to go in and see what we’re made of.” – Phillip Goodrum