2020 Memphis 901 FC season

The 2020 Memphis 901 FC season was the second season for Memphis 901 FC in the USL Championship (USLC), the second-tier professional soccer league in the United States and Canada.[1] The regular season was originally scheduled to be played between March 6 and October 17 with a 10-team playoff between October 21 and November 16.[2] USL suspended operations on March 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed in a limited capacity on July 11; the regular season was shortened to 16 matches and played in regional groups.

Memphis 901 FC
2020 season
Head coachTim Mulqueen
(until September 15)
Ben Pirmann, interim
(since September 15)
StadiumAutoZone Park
Memphis, Tennessee
USLGroup G: 4th
Conference: 11th
USL PlayoffsDid not qualify
2020 U.S. Open CupCancelled
Top goalscorerCal Jennings (9)
Highest home attendance8,571 (March 7 v. IND)
Lowest home attendance901 (Aug 8 v. NC)
901 (Oct 3 v. BHM)
Average home league attendance3,458
Biggest winCLT 1–3 MEM (Sept. 26)
MEM 3–1 BHM (Oct. 3)
Biggest defeatBHM 3–0 MEM (July 15)
LOU 4–1 MEM (Sept. 19)

Season in review

Background, off-season and pre-season

Memphis finished their inaugural season of 2019 in 15th place among the 18-team eastern conference, five spots below the playoff positions,[3] although they did enter the final week of the regular season with a mathematical chance of making the playoffs.[4] The club announced in November that nine players, mostly starters, from the inaugural season would be retained for the 2020 campaign.[5] In January, the club announced that minority owner Tim Howard would be taking on the role of Sporting Director.[6] Beginning in mid-January, the club announced several player signings: defenders Zach Carroll[7] and Mark Segbers,[8] midfielders Rafael Mentzingen,[9] Michael Reed,[10] and Jean-Christophe Koffi,[11] UK League One-experienced winger Keanu Marsh-Brown,[12] and goalkeeper Jimmy Hague.[13] In early February, the club announced their pre-season schedule, with exhibitions scheduled against clubs from the USL Championship and League One, as well as NCAA Divisions I and III.[14]

The club began its preseason campaign by dropping a match 2–1 away to Saint Louis FC on February 8.[15] The second preseason match on February 22 produced a 3–1 win over USL League One side Forward Madison.[16] The preseason campaign was finished on February 29 with a 1–0 win against the NCCA D-I University of Memphis men's team.[17]

On March 4, in the run-up to the season opener, the club announced that minority owner and sporting director Tim Howard was coming out of retirement to play in goal.[18]

March

In their season opener in front of a record crowd, the club went up 2-0 after only 16 minutes, then conceded four unanswered goals through the remainder of the match to fall 4–2 to Indy.[19] In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the league suspended play for 30 days beginning March 12.[20] On March 19, the suspension was further extended to May 10.[21]

June

On June 4, the league announced a tentative date of July 11 for a resumption of play.[22] Later, the league announced that upon resumption of play, teams would be separated into eight regional groups and play enough matches to complete a 16-game schedule.[23] On June 26, the league announced that Memphis was to be placed into Group G with other regional clubs including Birmingham, Charlotte, and North Carolina.[24]

July

Memphis began their Return To Play campaign in Group G on July 15 with a 0–3 loss on the road at Birmingham. Despite dominating first-half possession with 64%, Memphis conceded three goals before the half-time break.[25] Three days later, the club secured its first point of the season with a 2–2 draw away to Atlanta United 2. The tie was secured by a stoppage time goal from Cal Jennings in only his second professional appearance.[26] In their first home match after the Return To Play restart, the club secured another point with another 2–2 draw versus Charlotte.[27]

August

Memphis began the month by scoring their first competitive win of the season at home versus St. Louis. Keanu Marsh-Brown scored the go-ahead goal in the 54th minute, with the defense protecting the lead by limiting St. Louis to one shot on goal through the remainder of the match.[28] The club finished their 3-match homestand with a 0–1 loss to North Carolina FC. Akeem Ward scored for NCFC in the 38th minute and the team was unable to equalize despite controlling possession with 55% in the 1st half and 56% in the 2nd half.[29] The club followed that performance with a draw on the road against group leaders Birmingham. 901 held a 2–1 lead onwards from the 28th minute, but the Legion earned a penalty kick in stoppage time to claim a draw.[30] The club's final match of the month away to North Carolina was postponed in the midst of the reactions to the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.[31]

September

The club began a busy month of seven matches, six scheduled and one rescheduled, by losing at home to Charlotte 0–2. The match was particularly bad for Keanu Marsh-Brown who failed to convert a penalty kick in the eighth minute, then had a corner kick deflect off of him in the 32nd minute to put Charlotte on the scoreboard with an own goal.[32] Next, 901 earned another point with a draw against group leaders Birmingham, this time at home with each club scoring one goal.[33] The rescheduling of the postponed August 29 match created a situation that had the club playing North Carolina on the road twice in three days.[34] In the first match, Memphis scored their second competitive win of the season by the score of 3–2, courtesy of a stoppage time goal from Matt Hundley.[35] In the second match, Memphis surrendered a two-goal lead for the fourth time during the season in a 2–3 loss.[36]

On September 15 the club announced that inaugural manager Tim Mulqueen was being relieved of his duties, with assistant coach Ben Pirmann stepping in to fill the vacancy in the interim.[37] The team began the post-Mulqueen era with a 4–1 loss away at Louisville. The lone bright spot in the match for 901 was rookie Cal Jennings scoring his third goal in only two matches.[38] Following the postponement of their September 23 match at NCFC,[39] the 901 notched a 3–1 victory away versus Charlotte on the 26th. Despite four internal disciplinary suspensions that left the team with only three available substitutes, another Cal Jennings brace of goals propelled them to the victory.[40]

October

Memphis finished their season with another 3–1 victory, at home against Birmingham on this occasion. 901 FC's entire scoring output consisted of a hat trick from Cal Jennings.[41] Due to both Memphis and North Carolina FC being mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, league policy cancelled the clubs' postponed September 23 match, leaving both clubs with fifteen played matches.[42]

Roster
As of October 6, 2020[43]
No. Position Player Nation
1 GK Tim Howard  United States
2 DF Mark Segbers  United States
3 DF Zach Carroll  United States
4 DF Liam Doyle  England
5 DF Triston Hodge (on loan from W Connection)  Trinidad and Tobago
6 MF Dan Metzger  United States
7 MF Raul Gonzalez  United States
8 DF Marc Burch  United States
9 FW Keanu Marsh-Brown  Guyana
10 MF Jean-Christophe Koffi  Ivory Coast
11 FW Pierre da Silva  United States
12 GK Jimmy Hague  United States
14 MF Rafael Mentzingen  Brazil
15 DF Jackson Morse  United States
16 MF Tommy McCabe  United States
17 MF Michael Reed  United States
19 DF Rece Buckmaster  United States
20 MF Jose Baxter  England
21 MF Duane Muckette  Trinidad and Tobago
23 MF Leston Paul  Trinidad and Tobago
24 DF Jacob Hauser-Ramsey  United States
25 GK Jim Barkei  United States
26 FW Cal Jennings  United States
29 FW Brandon Allen  United States
70 FW Matt Hundley  United States

Competitions

Exhibitions
February 8 Preseason 1 Saint Louis FC 2–1 Memphis 901 FC Fenton, MO
1:00 PM CST Greig 15'
Academy Trialist 56'		 901 Report
StL Report		 Burch 64' Stadium: West Community Stadium
February 22 Preseason 2 Memphis 901 FC 3–1 Forward Madison FC Birmingham, AL
4:00 PM CST
Report
Stadium: Goldfarb Field
February 23 Preseason 3 Birmingham-Southern College v Memphis 901 FC Birmingham, AL
TBD PM CST Stadium: Goldfarb Field
February 29 Preseason 4 Memphis 901 FC 1–0 Memphis Tigers Memphis, TN
6:00 PM CST Hundley 71' Report Stadium: AutoZone Park

USL Championship
Main article: 2020 USL Championship season

Standings — Group G
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
1 Charlotte Independence 16 8 4 4 24 22 +2 28 1.75 Advance to USL Championship Playoffs
2 Birmingham Legion FC 16 7 4 5 29 19 +10 25 1.56
3 North Carolina FC 15 6 1 8 17 21 −4 19 1.27
4 Memphis 901 FC 15 4 4 7 24 31 −7 16 1.07
Source: USL

Match results

The league announced opening home matches for the season on January 6, 2020.[44] In the preparations for the resumption of league play, the remainder of Memphis' schedule was announced on July 2.[45]

March 7 1 Memphis 901 FC 2–4 Indy Eleven Memphis, TN
6:00 PM CST Allen 9'
Burch Yellow card 12'
Carroll 16'
Muckette Yellow card 17'		 Report Contreras Yellow card 11'
Carleton Yellow card 13'
Ayoze 45+3', Yellow card 88'
Pasher 69', 72'
Haworth 83'		 Stadium: AutoZone Park
Attendance: 8,571
Referee: Matthew Thompson
July 15 2 Birmingham Legion FC 3–0 Memphis 901 FC Birmingham, AL
6:00 PM CDT Lapa 22', 41'
Servania Yellow card 30'
Wright 31'
Crognale Yellow card 52'		 Report da Silva Yellow card 27'
Carroll Red card 58'		 Stadium: BBVA Compass Field
Referee: Matthew Thompson
Note: Televised live on ESPN2
July 18 3 Atlanta United 2 2–2 Memphis 901 FC Kennesaw, GA
6:30 PM CDT Conway 21'
Gannon 57'
Diop Yellow card 67'
Gurr Yellow card 78'
Jawneh Yellow card 90+7'		 Report Doyle Yellow card 16'
Allen 44'
Hodge Yellow card 74'
Segbers Yellow card 90'
Jennings 90+2'		 Stadium: Fifth Third Bank Stadium
Referee: Sergii Demianchuk
July 25 4 Memphis 901 FC 2–2 Charlotte Independence Memphis, TN
7:30 PM CDT Allen 16'
Buckmaster 56', Yellow card 86'
Reed Yellow card 90+2'		 Report Etou Yellow card 37'
Kelly Yellow card 45+1'
Haakenson 51'
Sabella 83'		 Stadium: AutoZone Park
Referee: Ben Meyer
August 1 5 Memphis 901 FC 1–0 Saint Louis FC Memphis, TN
7:30 PM CDT Muckette Yellow card 11'
Marsh-Brown 54'
Koffi Yellow card 69'
Paul Yellow card 90'
Hodge Yellow card 90+2'
Segbers Yellow card 90+6'		 Report Rivas Yellow card 64' Stadium: Autozone Park
Referee: Matt Thompson
August 8 6 Memphis 901 FC 0–1 North Carolina FC Memphis, TN
4:00 PM CDT Paul Yellow card 65' Report Ward Yellow card 15', 38'
Fortune Yellow card 21'		 Stadium: AutoZone Park
Attendance: 901
Referee: Matthew Thompson
August 15 7 Charlotte Independence 3–2 Memphis 901 FC Matthews, NC
6:00 PM CDT Johnson Yellow card 30'
Kelly 53'
Martinez 60' (pen.)
Lacroix Yellow card 65'
Haakenson 69'		 Report Segbers 13', Yellow card 72'
Mentzingen 51'
Muckette Yellow card 90+4'		 Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Referee: Elvis Osmanovic
August 22 8 Birmingham Legion FC 2–2 Memphis 901 FC Birmingham, AL
6:30 PM CDT Lapa 12'
Asiedu Yellow card 24'
Akinyode Yellow card 28'
Brett 90+8' (pen.)		 Report Mentzingen 18', Yellow card 90+4'
Marsh-Brown 29' (pen.), Yellow card 52'
Gonzalez Yellow card 45'
Hague Yellow card 90+2'		 Stadium: BBVA Compass Field
Referee: Muhammad Hassan
August 29 9 North Carolina FC P–P Memphis 901 FC Cary, NC
TBA PM CDT Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Note: Postponed as part of the protests over the shooting of Jacob Blake[31][46]
September 2 10 Memphis 901 FC 0–2 Charlotte Independence Memphis, TN
7:00 PM CDT Marsh-Brown soccer ball with red X 8'
Paul Yellow card 56'		 Report Marsh-Brown 32' (o.g.)
Haakenson 45+3'		 Stadium: AutoZone Park
Referee: Tori Penso
September 5 11 Memphis 901 FC 1–1 Birmingham Legion FC Memphis, TN
7:00 PM CDT Baxter Yellow card 25'
Marsh-Brown 28'
Metzger Yellow card 61' Yellow-red card 73'		 Report E. Crognale Yellow card 43'
Lapa 48' (pen.), Yellow card 89'		 Stadium: AutoZone Park
Referee: Jervis Atagana
September 10 9 North Carolina FC 2–3 Memphis 901 FC Cary, NC
6:00 PM CDT Pecka Yellow card 45+1'
Fortune Yellow card 64'
Kristo 86'
Taylor 90+1', Yellow card 90+7'		 Report Mentzingen 30'
Baxter Yellow card 36'
Paul Yellow card 55'
Hundley 75', 90+8'
Jennings Yellow card 89'		 Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Referee: John Matto
Note: Re-schedule of postponed August 29 match.[47]
September 13 12 North Carolina FC 3–2 Memphis 901 FC Cary, NC
5:00 PM CDT Barry Yellow card 29', 58'
Donovan 55'
Ward Yellow card 65'
Albadawi 89'		 Report Jennings 24', 35'
Carroll Yellow card 45+1'		 Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Referee: John Griggs
Note: Match originally scheduled for September 12.[47]
September 19 13 Louisville City FC 4–1 Memphis 901 FC Louisville, KY
6:30 PM CDT Lancaster 14', 72'
Ownby 24'
Hoppenot Yellow card 70'
Bone 84'		 Report Jennings 44' Stadium: Louisville Slugger Field
Referee: Nabil Bensalah
September 23 14 Memphis 901 FC v North Carolina FC Memphis, TN
7:00 PM CDT Stadium: AutoZone Park
Note: Postponed after a member of the Memphis 901 FC organization tested positive for COVID-19.[39]
September 26 15 Charlotte Independence 1–3 Memphis 901 FC Matthews, NC
6:00 PM CDT Roberts Yellow card 12'
Kelly 24'
Sabella Yellow card 33'
Etou Yellow card 68'
Dimick Yellow card 82'		 Report Paul Yellow card 20'
Baxter 41'
Jennings 43', 86'
McCabe Yellow card 89'
Allen Yellow card 90+1'		 Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Referee: Eric Tattersall
October 3 16 Memphis 901 FC 3–1 Birmingham Legion FC Memphis, TN
7:00 PM CDT Jennings 36', 54', 86'
Muckette Yellow card 43'
Marsh-Brown Yellow card 79'		 Report A. Crognale Yellow card 23'
Lopez Yellow card 33'
Lapa 41'
Williams Yellow card 66'		 Stadium: AutoZone Park
Attendance: 901
Referee: Ben Meyer

U.S. Open Cup
Main article: 2020 U.S. Open Cup

As a USL Championship club, Memphis will enter the competition in the Second Round, to be played April 7–9.[48]

April 8 2nd round Memphis 901 FC Tennessee P–P Tennessee Chattanooga FC Memphis, TN
7:00 PM CST Stadium: Mike Rose Soccer Complex
Note: Match postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic[49]

Statistics
As of October 6, 2020 Source: Memphis901FC.com[50]

Numbers after plus-sign(+) denote appearances as a substitute.

Appearances and goals
No. Pos Nat Player TotalUSL Championship Regular SeasonPlayoffs
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
21 MF Trinidad and Tobago TRI Duane Muckette 15011+4000
29 FW United States USA Brandon Allen 1539+6300
19 DF United States USA Rece Buckmaster 14114+0100
23 MF Trinidad and Tobago TRI Leston Paul 14010+4000
26 FW United States USA Cal Jennings 1496+8900
9 FW Guyana GUY Keanu Marsh-Brown 13312+1300
3 DF United States USA Zach Carroll 13111+2100
14 MF Brazil BRA Rafael Mentzingen 1338+5300
17 MF United States USA Michael Reed 1227+5200
2 DF United States USA Mark Segbers 10110+0100
5 DF Trinidad and Tobago TRI Triston Hodge 1009+1000
10 MF Ivory Coast CIV Jean-Christophe Koffi 1008+2000
70 FW United States USA Matt Hundley 1022+8200
12 GK United States USA Jimmy Hague 909+0000
8 DF United States USA Marc Burch 807+1000
20 MF England ENG Jose Baxter 816+2100
4 DF Isle of Man Isle of Man Liam Doyle 806+2000
16 MF United States USA Tommy McCabe 707+0000
7 MF United States USA Raul Gonzalez 703+4000
1 GK United States USA Tim Howard 606+0000
11 FW United States USA Pierre da Silva 403+1000
6 MF United States USA Dan Metzger 401+3000
24 DF United States USA Jacob Hauser-Ramsey 301+2000

References
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  2. "USL Championship Unveils 2020 Schedule". Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  3. "Standings". USL Championship. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  4. "With Path to Playoffs, Memphis 901 FC Begins Final Week of Regular Season Tomorrow Night at Charleston Battery". USL Championship. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
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  40. "901 FC Defeats Charlotte & Wins Fans Free Chick-Fil-A". Memphic901FC.com. September 26, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
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  42. "RGVFC Match Against Tulsa Postponed". USLChampionship.com. September 17, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
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  44. "Memphis 901 FC To Host Indy Eleven In 2020 Home Opener". Memphis 901 FC. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
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  47. "North Carolina FC Matches Against Memphis 901 FC Rescheduled". September 2, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  48. "Restructured Competition Format For 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Provides Opportunity For More "David vs. Goliath" Matchups In 107th Edition Of U.S. Soccer's National Championship". U.S. Soccer Federation. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  49. "U.S. Soccer Temporarily Suspends 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Due to COVID-19 Outbreak". ussoccer.com. March 13, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  50. "2020 Statistics". Retrieved October 6, 2020.
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