2020 Memphis 901 FC season
The 2020 Memphis 901 FC season is the second season for Memphis 901 FC in the USL Championship (USL-C), the second-tier professional soccer league in the United States and Canada.[1] This article covers the period from November 18, 2019, the day after the 2019 USL-C Playoff Final, to the conclusion of the 2020 USL-C Playoff Final, scheduled for November 12–16, 2020.[2]
2020 season | |
---|---|
Head Coach | Tim Mulqueen |
Stadium | AutoZone Park Memphis, Tennessee |
USL | Conference: TBD |
USL Playoffs | TBD |
2020 U.S. Open Cup | 2nd Round |
Average home league attendance | 4,736 |
Biggest defeat | 0–3 (July 15 vs. Birmingham) |
Season in review
Background, off-season and pre-season
Memphis finished their inaugural season of 2019 in 15th place among the 18-team eastern conference, five spots below the playoff positions,[3] although they did enter the final week of the regular season with a mathematical chance of making the playoffs.[4] The club announced in November that nine players, mostly starters, from the inaugural season would be retained for the 2020 campaign.[5] In January, the club announced that minority owner Tim Howard would be taking on the role of Sporting Director.[6] Beginning in mid-January, the club announced several player signings: defenders Zach Carroll[7] and Mark Segbers,[8] midfielders Rafael Mentzingen,[9] Michael Reed,[10] and Jean-Christophe Koffi,[11] UK League One-experienced winger Keanu Marsh-Brown,[12] and goalkeeper Jimmy Hague.[13] In early February, the club announced their pre-season schedule, with exhibitions scheduled against clubs from the USL Championship and League One, as well as NCAA Divisions I and III.[14]
The club began its preseason campaign by dropping a match 2–1 away to Saint Louis FC on February 8.[15] The second preseason match on February 22 produced a 3–1 win over USL League One side Forward Madison.[16] The preseason campaign was finished on February 29 with a 1–0 win against the NCCA D-I University of Memphis men's team.[17]
On March 4, in the run-up to the season opener, the club announced that minority owner and sporting director Tim Howard was coming out of retirement to play in goal.[18]
March
In their season opener in front of a record crowd, the club went up 2-0 after only 16 minutes, then conceded four unanswered goals through the remainder of the match to fall 4–2 to Indy.[19] In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the league suspended play for 30 days beginning March 12.[20] On March 19, the suspension was further extended to May 10.[21]
June
On June 4, the league announced a tentative date of July 11 for a resumption of play.[22] Later, the league announced that upon resumption of play, teams would be separated into eight regional groups and play enough matches to complete a 16-game schedule.[23] On June 26, the league announced that Memphis was to be placed into Group G with other regional clubs including Birmingham, Charlotte, and North Carolina.[24]
July
Memphis began their Return To Play campaign in Group G on July 15 with a 0–3 loss on the road at Birmingham. Despite dominating first-half possession with 64%, Memphis conceded three goals before the half-time break.[25] Three days later, the club secured its first point of the season with a 2–2 draw away to Atlanta United 2. The tie was secured by a stoppage time goal from Cal Jennings in only his second professional appearance.[26] In their first home match after the Return To Play restart, the club secured another point with another 2–2 draw versus Charlotte.[27]
August
Memphis began the month by scoring their first competitive win of the season at home versus St. Louis. Keanu Marsh-Brown scored the go-ahead goal in the 54th minute, with the defense protecting the lead by limiting St. Louis to one shot on goal through the remainder of the match.[28] The club finished their 3-match homestand with a 0–1 loss to North Carolina FC. Akeem Ward scored for NCFC in the 38th minute and the team was unable to equalize despite controlling possession with 55% in the 1st half and 56% in the 2nd half.[29]
Roster
- As of March 4, 2020[30]
Competitions
Exhibitions
8 February Preseason 1 | Saint Louis FC | 2–1 | Memphis 901 FC | Fenton, MO |
1:00 PM CST | Greig ![]() Academy Trialist ![]() |
901 Report StL Report |
Burch ![]() |
Stadium: West Community Stadium |
22 February Preseason 2 | Memphis 901 FC | 3–1 | Forward Madison FC | Birmingham, AL |
4:00 PM CST | Report | Stadium: Goldfarb Field |
23 February Preseason 3 | Birmingham-Southern College | v | Memphis 901 FC | Birmingham, AL |
TBD PM CST | Stadium: Goldfarb Field |
29 February Preseason 4 | Memphis 901 FC | 1–0 | Memphis Tigers | Memphis, TN |
6:00 PM CST | Hundley ![]() |
Report | Stadium: AutoZone Park |
USL Championship
Standings — Group G
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Birmingham Legion FC | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 5 | +7 | 14 | Advance to USL Championship Playoffs |
2 | North Carolina FC | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 7 | |
3 | Charlotte Independence | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 9 | −2 | 6 | |
4 | Memphis 901 FC | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 12 | −5 | 5 |
Match Results
The league announced opening home matches for the season on January 6, 2020.[31] In the preparations for the resumption of league play, the remainder of Memphis' schedule was announced on July 2.[32]
7 March 1 | Memphis 901 FC | 2–4 | Indy Eleven | Memphis, TN |
6:00 PM CST | Allen ![]() Burch ![]() Carroll ![]() Muckette ![]() |
Report | Contreras ![]() Carleton ![]() Ayoze ![]() ![]() Pasher ![]() ![]() Haworth ![]() |
Stadium: AutoZone Park Attendance: 8,571 Referee: Matthew Thompson |
15 July 2 | Birmingham Legion FC | 3–0 | Memphis 901 FC | Birmingham, AL |
6:00 PM CDT | Lapa ![]() ![]() Servania ![]() Wright ![]() Crognale ![]() |
Report | da Silva ![]() Carroll ![]() |
Stadium: BBVA Compass Field Referee: Matthew Thompson |
Note: Televised live on ESPN2 |
18 July 3 | Atlanta United 2 | 2–2 | Memphis 901 FC | Kennesaw, GA |
6:30 PM CDT | Conway ![]() Gannon ![]() Diop ![]() Gurr ![]() Jawneh ![]() |
Report | Doyle ![]() Allen ![]() Hodge ![]() Segbers ![]() Jennings ![]() |
Stadium: Fifth Third Bank Stadium Referee: Sergii Demianchuk |
26 July 4 | Memphis 901 FC | 2–2 | Charlotte Independence | Memphis, TN |
7:30 PM CDT | Allen ![]() Buckmaster ![]() ![]() Reed ![]() |
Report | Etou ![]() Kelly ![]() Haakenson ![]() Sabella ![]() |
Stadium: AutoZone Park Referee: Ben Meyer |
1 August 5 | Memphis 901 FC | 1–0 | Saint Louis FC | Memphis, TN |
7:30 PM CDT | Muckette ![]() Marsh-Brown ![]() Koffi ![]() Paul ![]() Hodge ![]() Segbers ![]() |
Report | Rivas ![]() |
Stadium: Autozone Park Referee: Matt Thompson |
8 August 6 | Memphis 901 FC | 0–1 | North Carolina FC | Memphis, TN |
4:00 PM CDT | Paul ![]() |
Report | Ward ![]() ![]() Fortune ![]() |
Stadium: AutoZone Park Attendance: 901 Referee: Matthew Thompson |
15 August 7 | Charlotte Independence | v | Memphis 901 FC | Matthews, NC |
TBA PM CDT | Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews |
22 August 8 | Birmingham Legion FC | v | Memphis 901 FC | Birmingham, AL |
TBA PM CDT | Stadium: BBVA Compass Field |
29 August 9 | North Carolina FC | v | Memphis 901 FC | Cary, NC |
TBA PM CDT | Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park |
2 September 10 | Memphis 901 FC | v | Charlotte Independence | Memphis, TN |
TBA PM CDT | Stadium: AutoZone Park |
5 September 11 | Memphis 901 FC | v | Birmingham Legion FC | Memphis, TN |
TBA PM CDT | Stadium: AutoZone Park |
12 September 12 | North Carolina FC | v | Memphis 901 FC | Cary, NC |
TBA PM CDT | Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park |
19 September 13 | Louisville City FC | v | Memphis 901 FC | Louisville, KY |
TBA PM CDT | Stadium: Louisville Slugger Field |
23 September 14 | Memphis 901 FC | v | North Carolina FC | Memphis, TN |
TBA PM CDT | Stadium: AutoZone Park |
26 September 15 | Charlotte Independence | v | Memphis 901 FC | Matthews, NC |
TBA PM CDT | Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews |
3 October 16 | Memphis 901 FC | v | Birmingham Legion FC | Memphis, TN |
TBA PM CDT | Stadium: AutoZone Park |
U.S. Open Cup
As a USL Championship club, Memphis will enter the competition in the Second Round, to be played April 7–9.[33]
8 April 2nd Round | Memphis 901 FC ![]() | P–P | ![]() | Memphis, TN |
7:00 PM CST | Stadium: Mike Rose Soccer Complex | |||
Note: Match postponed due to coronavirus pandemic[34] |
References
- "Memphis 901 FC Reveals Full 2019 USL Championship Schedule". Retrieved February 16, 2019.
- "USL Championship Unveils 2020 Schedule". Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- "Standings". USL Championship. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- "With Path to Playoffs, Memphis 901 FC Begins Final Week of Regular Season Tomorrow Night at Charleston Battery". USL Championship. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- "Memphis 901 FC Announces Returners for 2020". November 21, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- "Tim Howard Named Sporting Director of Memphis 901 FC". January 8, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- "Memphis 901 FC Signs Zach Carroll". January 13, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
- "Memphis 901 FC Signs Mark Segbers". January 14, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
- "Memphis 901 FC Signs Rafael Mentzingen". January 15, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
- "Memphis 901 FC Signs Michael Reed". January 16, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
- "Midfielder Jean-Christophe Koffi Signs with Memphis 901 FC". January 30, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
- "Guyanese International Signs with Memphis 901 FC". January 17, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
- "Memphis 901 FC Inks Jimmy Hague". January 28, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
- "901 FC to Face Memphis Tigers at Autozone Park". February 6, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
- "Memphis Falls 2-1 in Preseason Tilt with Saint Louis FC". Memphis 901 FC. February 8, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
- "Memphis Tops Forward Madison in Alabama". Memphis 901 FC. February 23, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
- "901 FC Edge Tigers in Final Shakedown". Memphis 901 FC. February 29, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
- "Tim Howard-Owned USL Team Lures Tim Howard Out of Retirement to Play GK". Sports Illustrated. March 4, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
- "Memphis Starts Strong, Edged Out By Indy". Memphis 901 FC. March 7, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- "USL Championship Temporarily Suspends Play". uslchampionship.com. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
- "USL Championship Extends Temporary Suspension of Season". uslchampionship.com. March 18, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- "USL Championship Announces July 11 Return". uslchampionship.com. June 4, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
- "USL Championship Unveils 2020 Season Format". uslchampionship.com. June 24, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
- "Championship Return to Play Preview – Group G". uslchampionship.com. June 26, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
- "901 FC Returns: Falls Short To Rival Birmingham". memphis901fc.com. July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
- "901 FC Secures First Point of 2020 Season". memphis901fc.com. July 18, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- "Memphis Takes A Draw In First Match Back Home". memphis901fc.com. July 25, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- "Memphis 901 FC Defeats St. Louis For First Win Of The Season". memphis901fc.com. August 1, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- "Memphis Falls To North Carolina". memphis901fc.com. August 8, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
- "2020 Team Roster". Memphis 901 FC. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
- "Memphis 901 FC To Host Indy Eleven In 2020 Home Opener". Memphis 901 FC. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- "Memphis 901 FC Releases Return To Play Schedule". memphis901fc.com. July 2, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
- "Restructured Competition Format For 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Provides Opportunity For More "David vs. Goliath" Matchups In 107th Edition Of U.S. Soccer's National Championship". U.S. Soccer Federation. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
- "U.S. Soccer Temporarily Suspends 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Due to COVID-19 Outbreak". ussoccer.com. March 13, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2020.