May 2, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Memphis 901 FC News Release
Memphis 901 FC is back in action this Saturday as the club hosts a strong Tampa Bay Rowdies side at 3 p.m. CT at AutoZone Park.
A frustrating five weeks of unlucky results came to a close in the form of an attacking explosion last time out for the Beale Street Boys with a 3-0 win in the Southern Harm Derby at Birmingham. The victory marked the first time the club bested Legion since 2021.
The duo of Bruno Lapa and Marlon Santos connected twice as Memphis put away three of their four chances at goal for three points. Lapa brace landed a USL Championship Team of the Week nod while Lucas Turci and Tyler Deric were named as honorable mentions.
Deric’s first clean sheet for 901 FC came in his 100th USL Championship Regular Season appearance last Saturday. The goalkeeper was crucial in the victory with six saves on six shots on goal from Birmingham, marking his first clean sheet with the club.
“Tyler has been brilliant since he came in,” Head Coach Stephen Glass said. “He comes and takes crosses, which a lot of people don’t give him credit for. He’s aggressive and brave as a lion. I think you see the saves he makes. Some of the games he hasn’t had too many to make, but anytime that he’s needed he stands up and makes really big saves.”
Deric and the back line will have the tall task of neutralizing an explosive Tampa Bay attack starring Cal Jennings. The forward scored two goals in the first 20 minutes of the match in last week’s 3-0 drubbing of New Mexico United. The combination of Jennings and his attacking partner Manuel Arteaga have combined for 13 goals in just
Glass said his team is focused on their own execution to give Tampa their first loss of the season.
“We need the same intensity and the same belief,” he said. “We kept believing in what we were doing when we weren’t winning and I think the same goes when we have won a game. We do the same things and we do it well, being aggressive off the ball and positive with it. We look to make chances and be brave on it.”
Tickets for Star Wars Day at AutoZone Park are available at the club’s official website.
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