It’s Week 3 of the USL Championship regular season and Bethlehem Steel FC is getting ready to take on its second expansion-side of 2019, Memphis 901 FC. Tickets are still available for Steel FC’s second home match at Talen Energy Stadium, so don’t forget to grab yours here.
Who is Memphis 901 FC?
Memphis 901 FC is in its first year in the USL Championship, joining the League as an expansion club. Colorado Rapids goalie and US Men’s National Team legend Tim Howard is part of the Memphis ownership group, giving the new club some legitimacy and a bit of media appeal.
901 FC is currently one of two USL Championship clubs from the state of Tennessee and plays its home matches at AutoZone Park in Memphis, Tenn. The stadium serves as the home for both Memphis 901 FC and the city’s Minor League Baseball Triple-A team, the Memphis Redbirds.
Memphis on the field
In the club’s first two matches, Memphis has only allowed one goal per match; one to Tampa Bay and one to Loudoun. Although Loudoun’s goal is their only mark of the season, Tampa Bay has scored three goals in two matches, with their goal against Memphis coming from the penalty spot. This is a team that has been built to be a defensive stalwart and make it difficult on opposing attacks. Though their record may not reflect this yet, 901 FC is definitely a team to watch out for.
Currently, Memphis holds a 0-1-1 regular-season record, with one goal to their name. In their first two matches, Memphis faced off against the Tampa Bay Rowdies and fellow expansion-side Loudoun United FC. The Tennessee club fell 0-1 to the Rowdies in their inaugural match and drew against Loudoun 1-1, with both matches coming at their home field AutoZone Park.
Steel FC hosts Memphis 901 FC at Talen Energy Stadium at 6:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 24. Single-match tickets are still available for this match here.
Players to watch
Adam Najem – A former Philadelphia Union player that has spent time with Steel FC, Najem is dangerous in the attack. Thankfully for the Steel, he’ll be with the Afghanistan National Team in Malaysia and miss Sunday’s match.
Morgan Hackworth – Hackworth joined Memphis following his collegiate career at the University of Akron and the Philadelphia Union Academy before that. He is the son of former Union head coach John Hackworth.
Elliot Collier – Memphis’ lone goal scorer and statistical leader in most of their attacking categories, Collier looks to be a handful and the key to stopping the Memphis 901 FC attack.
Injuries/Suspensions
None
Head coach
Tim Mulqueen – Mulqueen was named as the inaugural coach of Memphis 901 FC following lengthy careers in MLS and the U.S. Soccer. Most recently Mulqueen served as an Assistant Coach for Orlando City of Major League Soccer and also coached in MLS with Sporting Kansas City and the New York/New Jersey MetroStars. In addition to his MLS coaching experience, Mulqueen was the goalkeepers coach for the United States at the 2005 and 2007 FIFA U-17 World Championships, the 2008 Summer Olympics, and the 2007 and 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cups.
