With the shift to the USL Championship Western Conference for the club’s sixth season in the USL Championship, Memphis 901 FC is set for big trips out west and this season’s first away day brings a challenge in one of the rowdiest venues in the league.
The Beale Street Boys’ first road test in the western division won’t be a walk in McKinley Park as they face last year’s regular season conference champions on Saturday night at Heart Health Park.
Sacramento is unbeaten in their three matches played this year with a victory over Miami and draws to Indy Eleven and Orange County.
The dangerous Golden State attack stars forward Trevor Amann, who leads the league with three goals on eight shots already this season. Amann earned USL Championship Player of the Week after a season-opening brace in front of a sellout crowd at Heart Health Park.
Memphis will look to make an early statement in the west in Saturday’s match as they work to rebound from a loss to Indy Eleven last time out.
“It’s a focus and motivation. We’ll go in there knowing not many teams go in there and win,” Head Coach Stephen Glass said. “We got very close last year as well and we’re a different group. They’ve been a top team for a number of years and we’ll go in knowing it’s a tough challenge. The boys will be ready when the game comes around and hopefully the people at home watching will like what they see.”
Glass will have forward Nighte Pickering back from international duty and available for selection on Saturday. Pickering was called up to the US Youth National Team and to spend the bye week in Rabat, Morocco for a 10-day training camp and friendlies against the English and Moroccan youth national teams. The 19-year-old has one goal on four shots in two matches for 901 FC this year.
“Nighte had a really good preseason. He scored some great goals and played against top opposition,” Glass said. “It’s been a good test for him and he’s handled everything. He looks like he’s going to score every week, which is what you want from a center forward.”
Kickoff at Heart Health Park is set for 9 p.m. CT with streaming available on CBS Sports Golazo. Fans can watch CBS Sports Golazo Network on Paramount+, the CBS Sports app, CBSSports.com, and Pluto TV.
Hangin’ Out West
The Beale Street Boys hit the road for their first Western Conference away day in club history when they face Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday. Sacramento has established itself as a perennial contender after winning the Western Conference regular season title in 2023.
Memphis will look to give Sacramento their first loss of the season.
Pickering Back Stateside
Nighte Pickering returns from international duty and is available for selection in Saturday’s match after a 10-day camp with the USYNT in Rabat, Morocco. The 19-year-old striker scored in the club’s season opener and looks to build off his strong early campaign.
Dunko from Down Under
Midfielder Zac Duncan is an early standout for Memphis 901 FC with 13 duels won and six interceptions in two matches. The Aussie standout joined the club ahead of the season looking to fill the void of a box-to-box midfielder alongside Emerson Hyndman and Bruno Lapa.
“He’s everything we expected coming from the league he’s coming from,” Stephen Glass said. “It’s a great pedigree in the first place, but it doesn’t always translate to when you get on the grass. We’re delighted in what we’re seeing. He gets around the pitch, he’s quick and likes to tackle. I think people are going to like what they see when they watch him.”
Next Man Up
Memphis will be without Akeem Ward and Oscar Jimenez were seen off the field with red cards in the last match. Head Coach Stephen Glass will look toward the likes of Carson Vom Steeg, Tulu, Alvaro Quezada and Lucas Turci in the back line to replace the production of the two fullbacks.
Also among reinforcements is AB Cissoko, who put away his first USL Championship goal in last week’s match.
