Memphis 901 FC falters in 3-1 defeat at Colorado Springs

It was a night to forget for Memphis 901 FC as they conceded twice in the first six minutes to the Colorado Springs Switchbacks, losing 3-1. Memphis have played three mid-week games this season, compiling a record of 1-1-1.

Witches and wizards night brought a curse to both teams from kickoff. A lot of sloppy soccer led to chaos on both ends of the pitch with Memphis coming off much worse.

Four minutes into the match, neither Panos Armenakas or AB Cissoko were able to deal with a cross into the box. Jonas Fjeldberg was in the perfect position to score off the right crossbar.

Fjeldberg got his brace two minutes later from a Tyreek Magee ball splitting tons of space between the Memphis back line. The striker had space in-behind and was clinical with his finish. Colorado Springs would not get another shot on goal the entire half but pounced on the chances.

Memphis had opportunities early in the match as well. Bruno Lapa was given plenty of room to attack. He found a Marlon Santos run in the tenth minute but the Brazilian connection resulted in a shot well over the bar.

The frustration of missed chances and a two-goal deficit in the blink of an eye culminated in Lapa getting a yellow card. Magee dribbled past three defenders before being brought down.

The game settled down for a bit with both teams exchanging possession although the mistakes remained. Triston Henry had a missed kick scare against the Switchback high press.

None of the Beale Street Boys looked comfortable on the ball but they got a goal back from a Switchback mistake. Marlon drew a free kick in the 31st minute. Noe Meza, earning his third start of the season, lobbed it into a crowd of Switchback players inside the box. Defender Matthew Mahoney was seemingly unaware, the ball bouncing off his shoulder and into the back of the net.

Any momentum that could have been created was quickly ripped away. Samuel Careaga was shown two yellow cards in four minutes — a bad foul bringing down Magee and a strike that missed the ball but connected with a Switchback player. Head coach Stephen Glass went to his bench immediately, bringing Tulu in for Armenakas.

Trailing and down a man, Memphis were not able to generate anything in the attack in the second half. There were zero shots with only brief stretches of possession in the opposing half.

The Switchbacks, on the other hand, were chasing a third goal to put the game away. They were having trouble against an anchored Memphis defense until the referee whistled for a penalty in the 74th minute. Tulu was defending a run from Ronaldo Damas and was called for a handball inside the box. The benefit of replay showed the ball actually hit his side, but VAR was not available to prevent Damus from converting the penalty.

If the result and a Careaga red card wasn’t bad enough, Marlon was sent off from the bench after the third Colorado Springs goal and Zach Duncan was subbed off due to an apparent injury.