901 FC vs. Detroit City preview: Playoff rematch at AutoZone Park

Few things in professional sports can stoke disdain for opposing teams and their fans quite the way that playoff games can. Such is the case for Memphis 901 FC against Detroit City. Prior to last year’s meeting in the Eastern Conference Quarter-finals, the amount of venom and vitriol that fans of Detroit City directed towards the fans, towards 901 FC as an organization, and towards Memphis as a city was unholy. 901 FC then proceeded to dump Detroit out of the playoffs by a 3-1 scoreline that ranks as perhaps the best win in 901 FC history. Now the two teams prepare to battle once again in much different circumstances as Memphis 901 FC returns home for the first of three straight home games.

Memphis 901 FC is currently the hottest team in the USL. The Beale Street Boys have won five straight games and six of the last seven, which not so coincidentally, are the exact same games where they have been able to score multiple goals. Even better is that they are currently unbeaten in nine straight league games dating all the way back to April 1 when they got a 1-1 road draw with Miami FC. They also show no signs of slowing down either.

Prior to last weekend’s big win on the road in Louisville (a place that had for years been a house of horrors for them) it was announced that 901 FC had signed Emerson Hyndman. Not only did Hyndman come to Memphis from Atlanta United in MLS, but had also scored 4 goals in 13 appearances for Scottish giant Rangers. He is also the most recent Memphis 901 FC signing to have experience playing for the USMNT, making his international debut in 2014 and his most recent international appearance in 2016.

For Detroit however, this season has not been a great one. They surprised many (and their fans made sure to let 901 FC fans hear it) in their first season in the USL after moving up from the NISA by qualifying for the playoffs. And of course they were knocked out of those playoffs by 901 FC. This season has been a different story. They currently have a record of 4-7-3 (W-L-D) and sit right on the fringe of playoff position. They started off the season in abysmal fashion, winning just once in their first ten games. Nor were they able to pull off a Cupset as 901 FC did against Atlanta United in the US Open Cup (they lost to Minnesota United at home by conceding three goals in a six minute stretch of the second half). They do appear to have started to figure things out and have crept back up the standings by going unbeaten in their last four games, three of which were wins.

When, Where

Date: Saturday, June 17, 2023

Venue: AutoZone Park

City: Memphis, Tennessee

Time: 7:30pm CT

TV: WMC 5.2, ESPN+

All-Time Series

Memphis 901 FC leads 2-0-1

Last Meeting

Date: Saturday, October 22, 2022

Venue: AutoZone Park

City: Memphis, Tennessee

Attendance: 6,010

Result: Memphis 901 FC 3-1 Detroit City

Conference Standing

Memphis 901 FC: 4th in East (21pts)

Detroit City: 8th in East (15pts)

Next Game

Date: Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Competition: USL Regular Season

Match-Up: Memphis 901 FC vs. FC Tulsa

Venue: AutoZone Park

City: Memphis, Tennessee

Time: 7:00pm CT

TV: WMC 5.2, ESPN+

Photo Credit: D’Angelo Connell Photography