Memphis 901 FC vs. Louisville City preview: Beale Street Boys back in USL action

For years there has been a rivalry between Memphis and Louisville. The University of Memphis and University of Louisville used to have one of the most intense rivalries in all of college basketball (and college football to a lesser extent) across various conferences including the old Metro Conference, Conference USA, and most recently the American Athletic Conference. Classic coaching matchups of Hall of Fame coaches like Rick Pitino and John Calipari as well as Denny Crum and Dana Kirk. But with those two programs no longer in the same conference, the rivalry has fallen by the way-side. Fortunately, 901 FC and Louisville City have picked up where the two colleges have left off.

Memphis 901 FC is currently in a great run of form, going unbeaten in five straight games across all competitions. Things got rolling with a 1-1 draw away to Miami FC before a dramatic, extra-time win against One Knoxville in the US Open Cup. They returned home and fought to a long-delayed 2-2 draw with the Las Vegas Lights before taking a trip and registering their first USL win, a resounding 3-0 victory against the Rio Grande Valley Toros. They followed that impressive performance by shocking Atlanta United of MLS in the US Open Cup. One of the best things about that Cupset was Philip Goodrum bagging his first goal of the season. Scoring goals in contagious and Memphis fans will be hoping for a Goodrum scoring streak.

Louisville City is right where they have been since their first day in the league back in 2015: at or near the top. They are three games unbeaten in USL play: 1-0 win over Detroit City, 1-0 win against San Antonio FC, and a 0-0 draw with the Charleston Battery and former 901 FC manager Ben Pirmann. Unlike 901 FC however, they have been eliminated from the US Open Cup, falling 1-0 in the 3rd round to FC Cincinnati from MLS. Louisville City is a rarity in the USL, in that they have been able to keep the bulk of their roster intact over the years. Brian Ownby, Niall McCabe, and Paolo del Piccolo have all been with the team for several years. They also have a player named Josh Wynder who just earned a call-up to the USMNT for their recent friendly win over Mexico. Louisville also features a pair of former Memphis 901 FC players: defender Wes Charpie and goalkeeper Kyle Morton.

It takes more than geography and history between to cities to make a real rivalry. It also takes good games between the two teams. For the first several years of Memphis 901 FC’s existence, the games against Louisville City were not good, especially trips to Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville. But starting in 2021 that started to turn around and perhaps reached a peak last season when 901 FC went on the road to earn a last minute win in Louisville…and promptly had two players sent off (in addition to one Louisville player). Who knows what the next chapter in this rivalry will bring?

When, Where

Date: Saturday, April 29, 2023

Venue: AutoZone Park

City: Memphis, Tennessee

Time: 7pm CT

TV: WMC 5.2, ESPN+

All-Time Series

Memphis 901 FC trails 2-6-1

Last Meeting

Friday, September 23, 2022

Lynn Family Stadium

Louisville, Kentucky

Memphis 901 FC 2-1 Louisville City

Conference Standing

Memphis 901 FC: 8th in East (5pts)

Louisville City: 3rd in East (13 pts)

Next Game

Date: Saturday, May 6, 2023

Competition: USL Regular Season

Match-Up: Memphis 901 FC @ Hartford Athletic

Venue: Trinity Health Stadium

City: Hartford, Connecticut

TV: WMC 5.2, ESPN+