The goals for the 2023 season have been clear for Memphis 901 FC since February: make the postseason, earn a home playoff match, and compete for a title. Now the table is set for 901 FC as they kick off the USL Championship Playoffs in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on Saturday, October 21 at AutoZone Park. The first focus in the Beale Street Boys’ quest is falls on Louisville City FC standing as the first obstacle before an extended playoff run.
The No. 5 seed travels to the Bluff City after finishing just two points below Memphis in the table, having suffered a home loss and a draw in the clubs’ two regular season meetings.
With one win in their last five outings, Louisville enters the unfriendly confines of AutoZone Park looking for an upset over 901 FC, who rounded back into form with a 3-2-1 record over the last month of the regular season, including two victories over Tampa Bay.
Heading into the playoffs, there’s a certain drive to take the club to stages its never been before, but there’s a calm confidence coming from the Memphis locker room. Forward Luiz Fernando said the team is prepared to give what’s required to advance.
“We’re always motivated,” Fernando said. “We can play any team and we’re always going to be motivated to do what we can do. The coach always tells us to focus on us. So if we focus on us and do what we do, we’re going to be successful. This is the fun part.”
Memphis will look to utilize one of the top attacks in the league to topple a club with postseason pedigree as Louisville hasn’t missed a USL Championship semifinal round since 2017. A dangerous attacking corps led by Fernando, Rodrigo Da Costa and Aaron Molloy will work to break down the Louisville back line.
Da Costa leads the club with 15 goals this season, an individual single season record, while Molloy serves as the key distributor with eight assist and a league-leading 76 chances created to his name.
“Teams know what we’re about and know that we’re dangerous,” Head Coach Stephen Glass said. “So we’ve got a confidence about us, but we know what we need to do to avoid the pitfalls. We need to do the work and be humble. It’s going to be important how we approach it and how we impose ourselves on the game.”
Fans can purchase tickets now on the club’s official website.
Home Sweet Home
Memphis 901 FC earned their third consecutive playoff berth and secured a home playoff match for the second time in club history with a top-four Eastern Conference finish. 901 FC holds a +6 goal differential at home this season, averaging two goals per match at AutoZone Park with 34 goals in 17 matches.
Memphis: The Distribution Hub of the USL
The Beale Street Boys produced one of the top attacks in the USL Championship this season. Memphis sits at the top of the league in Through Passes and Touches in the Penalty Area and finished the regular season in the top five in Ball Possession (3rd),Passes to the Final Third (2nd), and Shots (4th).
901 FC has had 17 different players score goals this season with 16 players assisting others in scores.
