Memphis 901 FC enters the second half of the season with a two-match tour of Northern California starting with a matchup against Oakland Roots SC on Wednesday, July 12.
The midweek fixture is a makeup for the two club’s original date on March 25, which was postponed due to field conditions.
After a franchise record 12-match unbeaten streak in the first 16 matches of the season, Memphis looks to get back on track from two disappointing losses against Phoenix and San Antonio.
Memphis fell to San Antonio FC last time out with a hat trick from Tani Oluwaseyi while 901 FC failed to score for just the third time in the regular season.
Last time the two clubs met, Memphis grabbed a 2-1 victory at AutoZone Park featuring goals from Aaron Molloy and Oakland’s Dariusz Formella.
Formella leads the 2023 Oakland side with six goals to go with two assists in 17 appearances. The Polish winger will look to solve the Memphis back line as the Beale St. Boys battle to move back into the top four in the Eastern Conference.
Oakland are 0-2-3 in their last five and fell to No. 10 in the Western Conference after a 3-0 loss to Tampa Bay last time out.
The match set for a 9 p.m. CT kickoff will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and WMC Bounce 5.2. locally.
Road Warriors
Memphis has been one of the top clubs on the road in the USL Championship with only one loss away from AutoZone Park this season.
Luiz is on Fire
Luiz Fernando is available for selection on Wednesday for his 150th USL Championship regular season appearance. Approaching over 10,000 regular season minutes in his career, Fernando played a key part in the club’s success in the first half of the season with four goals and three assists across all competitions.
Electric Attack
Memphis stands toward the top of the league with their dangerous offensive attack scoring 30 goals in 16 matches. Despite being held scoreless in their last two matches, the Beale St. Boys still rank in the top-five in goals per match, shots per match and final third entries.
Goals per match:
- San Antonio – 1.94
- Memphis – 1.88
- Tampa Bay – 1.78
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, 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 leads the league in chances created with da Costa tied for fourth as Memphis stands toward the top in almost every offensive team metric.
Chances Created Leaderboard:
- Aaron Molloy – 43
- Charlie Dennis – 42
- Taylor Davila – 41
- Rodrigo da Costa – 36
- Jack Gurr – 36
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.
