Memphis 901 FC faced Charlotte on the road Saturday night for the clubs’ second matchup this season.
Leading into the game, head coach Tim Mulqueen admitted that the team was disappointed with the points they have left on the table in the past couple of matches. He described the attitude at training this week as no-nonsense.
That attitude was felt from the very start of the match. Within a minute of the first whistle, Memphis had their first shot on a header from Brandon Allen. The header off a cross from Keanu Marsh-Brown went just over the crossbar.
From that moment Memphis kept their foot on the gas pedal holding over 60 percent of possession in the first 20 minutes of play and winning over 62 percent of duels.
Mark Segbers put Memphis ahead with his first goal of the season. The goal came on a ball played over the top from Duane Muckette with Segbers on the right side, he snuck it past Charlotte’s Brandon Miller on the far side.
Throughout the first half, Charlotte produced just one quality opportunity at goal. A bicycle kick at the top of the six-yard box by forward Tresor Mbuyu had Jimmy Hague thanking the crossbar.
Earlier in the week leading into the match, Mulqueen said the team needed to protect the ball better and finish their opportunities. In the first 45 minutes of play, Memphis had a passing accuracy of 81.6 percent and headed into halftime leading 1-0.
Storms rolling through Charlotte caused a longer halftime with two lightning delays. An extended halftime can be both a blessing and a curse. Memphis overcame the added time in the locker room scoring a goal in the 51st minute.
The goal by Rafa Mentzingen, came in the form of a volley at the back post on well placed 30-yard cross from Segbers.
Following the goal from Mentzingen, it was all Charlotte, responding with three goals in 16 minutes of play.
In the second half, Charlotte dominated every statistic in which Memphis won in the first. They won 60% of duels and totaled 10 shots opposed to Memphis’s five in the second half.
As Charlotte takes the three points, Memphis remains in last place in the group and heads into another Group G matchup next Saturday against Birmingham Legion.
Memphis 901 FC faced Charlotte on the road Saturday night for the clubs’ second matchup this season.
Leading into the game, head coach Tim Mulqueen admitted that the team was disappointed with the points they have left on the table in the past couple of matches. He described the attitude at training this week as no-nonsense.
That attitude was felt from the very start of the match. Within a minute of the first whistle, Memphis had their first shot on a header from Brandon Allen. The header off a cross from Keanu Marsh-Brown went just over the crossbar.
From that moment Memphis kept their foot on the gas pedal holding over 60 percent of possession in the first 20 minutes of play and winning over 62 percent of duels.
Mark Segbers put Memphis ahead with his first goal of the season. The goal came on a ball played over the top from Duane Muckette with Segbers on the right side, he snuck it past Charlotte’s Brandon Miller on the far side.
Throughout the first half, Charlotte produced just one quality opportunity at goal. A bicycle kick at the top of the six-yard box by forward Tresor Mbuyu had Jimmy Hague thanking the crossbar.
Earlier in the week leading into the match, Mulqueen said the team needed to protect the ball better and finish their opportunities. In the first 45 minutes of play, Memphis had a passing accuracy of 81.6 percent and headed into halftime leading 1-0.
Storms rolling through Charlotte caused a longer halftime with two lightning delays. An extended halftime can be both a blessing and a curse. Memphis overcame the added time in the locker room scoring a goal in the 51st minute.
The goal by Rafa Mentzingen, came in the form of a volley at the back post on well placed 30-yard cross from Segbers.
Following the goal from Mentzingen, it was all Charlotte, responding with three goals in 16 minutes of play.
In the second half, Charlotte dominated every statistic in which Memphis won in the first. They won 60% of duels and totaled 10 shots opposed to Memphis’s five in the second half.
As Charlotte takes the three points, Memphis remains in last place in the group and heads into another Group G matchup next Saturday against Birmingham Legion.
