MEMPHIS, Tennessee – Memphis 901 FC regrouped at halftime, hit its stride in the second half, and earned a crucial point against the second-place team in the USL Championship Eastern Conference with a 2-2 draw against New York Red Bulls II Saturday night at AutoZone Park.
After New York scored twice in the opening 45 minutes and controlled possession for much of the first half, 901 FC (3-9-6, 15 pts) came out after halftime and made all of the right moves in a clinical second half, led by Brandon Allen’s two goals.
“Their pressure caused us some problems because we didn’t have the legs, we didn’t have the energy in the first half,” 901 FC head coach Tim Mulqueen said. “We talked in the second half and it was simple, there was nothing tactically that we needed to change. Sometimes in soccer, it’s just about running around and competing. We made a commitment in the second half to do that. Lagos Kunga, Adam Najem, and Josh Morton did a fantastic job and lifted the group. Marc Burch, our captain, kept the guys going and driving them forward. We went toe-to-toe with them, and it was a fantastic performance.”
Allen scored his first goal as a member of 901 FC in the 48th minute off a beautiful pass by Kunga, who entered as a substitute at the break. He then found the net in the 87th minute, playing a ball from Wes Charpie past the keeper for the equalizer.
“It’s a big result for us,” Allen said. “We haven’t made a comeback like this all year. For me personally to get my first goal here, it’s exciting, and hopefully there’s many more to come. Lagos was a big impact. He assisted me there on the near-post for my finish, but overall it’s great to get the point tonight.”
“This is why we got him,” Mulqueen said about Allen. “He’s a prolific scorer. Those are goal-scorer’s goals. I’m really pleased with the result.”
In addition to Kunga, Memphis brought on Najem and Morton in the second half, and the trio proved instrumental as 901 FC turned the tides.
After tying the match at 2, 901 FC staved off a couple of Red Bulls II (11-4-5, 38 pts) scoring attempts in the final few minutes to finish off the match and pick up the point against one of the top teams in the league.
Jeff Caldwell ended the match with five saves in goal, including a couple down the stretch that cemented the result for 901 FC.
Memphis closes the month of July with a home match next Saturday, July 27, against Ottawa Fury FC. Kickoff at AutoZone Park is set for 7:30 p.m.
Tickets for the remainder of the season are available at https://www.memphis901fc.com/tickets.
For the latest information on the team, visit https://www.memphis901fc.com and follow the club on social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Memphis 901 FC Starting XI
1 (GK) Jeff Caldwell, 22 (D) Wes Charpie, 8 (D) Marc Burch (c), 15 (D) Jacob Hauser-Ramsey, 17 (D) Ewan Grandison, 2 (M) Morgan Hackworth, 27 (M) Cam Lindley, 6 (M) Dan Metzger, 23 (M) Leston Paul, 18 (F) Elliot Collier, 29 (F) Brandon Allen
Subs: 28 (F) Jochen Graf, 11 (F) Lagos Kunga, 24 (GK) Scott Levene, 3 (D) Abdi Mohamed, 26 (D) Josh Morton, 10 (M) Adam Najem, 9 (F) Luca Uccello
Substitutions: 45’ Lagos Kunga on, Morgan Hackworth off… 68’ Adam Najem on, Leston Paul off… 75’ Josh Morton on, Jacob Hauser-Ramsey off
New York Red Bulls II Starting XI
24 (GK) Evan Louro, 66 (D) Janos Loebe, 35 (D) Jordan Scarlett, 15 (D) Sean Nealis, 6 (D) Kyle Duncan, 80 (M) Chris Lema, 8 (M) Jean Koffi, 88 (M) Vincent Bezecourt, 50 (F) Jared Stroud, 25 (F) Mathias Jorgensen, 11 (F) Marcus Epps (c)
Subs: 81 (GK) Rashid Nuhu, 55 (D) Preston Kilwien, 72 (D) Edgardo Rito, 91 (D) Rece Buckmaster, 51 (M) Kyle Zajec, 47 (M) John Tolkin, 39 (F) Sebastian Elney
Substitutions: 75’ Rece Buckmaster on, Kyle Duncan off… 75’ John Tolkin on, Marcus Epps off… 82’ Sebastian Elney on, Vincent Bezecourt off
About Memphis 901 FC
Memphis 901 FC is a professional American soccer team playing in its first season in the United Soccer League Championship. Memphis 901 FC, led by Principal Owner Peter Freund, Minority Owner Tim Howard, President Craig Unger, Sporting Director Andrew Bell, and head coach Tim Mulqueen, is part of a market that includes over 8,000 youth soccer players, an established American Outlaws chapter, and strong collegiate programs.
About the USL
The United Soccer League (USL) is the largest professional soccer organization in North America, possessing nearly a decade of experience in bringing the world’s game to communities across the United States and Canada. Overseeing the USL Championship, USL League One, and USL League Two, the organization is built on a proven and recognized model in international football and counts more than 100 clubs in its membership.
MEMPHIS, Tennessee – Memphis 901 FC regrouped at halftime, hit its stride in the second half, and earned a crucial point against the second-place team in the USL Championship Eastern Conference with a 2-2 draw against New York Red Bulls II Saturday night at AutoZone Park.
After New York scored twice in the opening 45 minutes and controlled possession for much of the first half, 901 FC (3-9-6, 15 pts) came out after halftime and made all of the right moves in a clinical second half, led by Brandon Allen’s two goals.
“Their pressure caused us some problems because we didn’t have the legs, we didn’t have the energy in the first half,” 901 FC head coach Tim Mulqueen said. “We talked in the second half and it was simple, there was nothing tactically that we needed to change. Sometimes in soccer, it’s just about running around and competing. We made a commitment in the second half to do that. Lagos Kunga, Adam Najem, and Josh Morton did a fantastic job and lifted the group. Marc Burch, our captain, kept the guys going and driving them forward. We went toe-to-toe with them, and it was a fantastic performance.”
Allen scored his first goal as a member of 901 FC in the 48th minute off a beautiful pass by Kunga, who entered as a substitute at the break. He then found the net in the 87th minute, playing a ball from Wes Charpie past the keeper for the equalizer.
“It’s a big result for us,” Allen said. “We haven’t made a comeback like this all year. For me personally to get my first goal here, it’s exciting, and hopefully there’s many more to come. Lagos was a big impact. He assisted me there on the near-post for my finish, but overall it’s great to get the point tonight.”
“This is why we got him,” Mulqueen said about Allen. “He’s a prolific scorer. Those are goal-scorer’s goals. I’m really pleased with the result.”
In addition to Kunga, Memphis brought on Najem and Morton in the second half, and the trio proved instrumental as 901 FC turned the tides.
After tying the match at 2, 901 FC staved off a couple of Red Bulls II (11-4-5, 38 pts) scoring attempts in the final few minutes to finish off the match and pick up the point against one of the top teams in the league.
Jeff Caldwell ended the match with five saves in goal, including a couple down the stretch that cemented the result for 901 FC.
Memphis closes the month of July with a home match next Saturday, July 27, against Ottawa Fury FC. Kickoff at AutoZone Park is set for 7:30 p.m.
Tickets for the remainder of the season are available at https://www.memphis901fc.com/tickets.
For the latest information on the team, visit https://www.memphis901fc.com and follow the club on social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Memphis 901 FC Starting XI
1 (GK) Jeff Caldwell, 22 (D) Wes Charpie, 8 (D) Marc Burch (c), 15 (D) Jacob Hauser-Ramsey, 17 (D) Ewan Grandison, 2 (M) Morgan Hackworth, 27 (M) Cam Lindley, 6 (M) Dan Metzger, 23 (M) Leston Paul, 18 (F) Elliot Collier, 29 (F) Brandon Allen
Subs: 28 (F) Jochen Graf, 11 (F) Lagos Kunga, 24 (GK) Scott Levene, 3 (D) Abdi Mohamed, 26 (D) Josh Morton, 10 (M) Adam Najem, 9 (F) Luca Uccello
Substitutions: 45’ Lagos Kunga on, Morgan Hackworth off… 68’ Adam Najem on, Leston Paul off… 75’ Josh Morton on, Jacob Hauser-Ramsey off
New York Red Bulls II Starting XI
24 (GK) Evan Louro, 66 (D) Janos Loebe, 35 (D) Jordan Scarlett, 15 (D) Sean Nealis, 6 (D) Kyle Duncan, 80 (M) Chris Lema, 8 (M) Jean Koffi, 88 (M) Vincent Bezecourt, 50 (F) Jared Stroud, 25 (F) Mathias Jorgensen, 11 (F) Marcus Epps (c)
Subs: 81 (GK) Rashid Nuhu, 55 (D) Preston Kilwien, 72 (D) Edgardo Rito, 91 (D) Rece Buckmaster, 51 (M) Kyle Zajec, 47 (M) John Tolkin, 39 (F) Sebastian Elney
Substitutions: 75’ Rece Buckmaster on, Kyle Duncan off… 75’ John Tolkin on, Marcus Epps off… 82’ Sebastian Elney on, Vincent Bezecourt off
About Memphis 901 FC
Memphis 901 FC is a professional American soccer team playing in its first season in the United Soccer League Championship. Memphis 901 FC, led by Principal Owner Peter Freund, Minority Owner Tim Howard, President Craig Unger, Sporting Director Andrew Bell, and head coach Tim Mulqueen, is part of a market that includes over 8,000 youth soccer players, an established American Outlaws chapter, and strong collegiate programs.
About the USL
The United Soccer League (USL) is the largest professional soccer organization in North America, possessing nearly a decade of experience in bringing the world’s game to communities across the United States and Canada. Overseeing the USL Championship, USL League One, and USL League Two, the organization is built on a proven and recognized model in international football and counts more than 100 clubs in its membership.
