CUPSET BABY! 901 FC pulls off shocker against Atlanta United

For the first time ever, Memphis 901 FC has beaten an MLS team. Not only did they beat an MLS team, they beat one of the biggest brands in MLS. And not only did they beat one of the biggest brands in MLS, they did it on the road. And not only did they do it on the road, they had to come from behind and go to extra time to get the win. Final score from Kennesaw: Memphis 901 FC 2-1 Atlanta United.

Call it the magic of the Open Cup because Memphis 901 FC has left it late it and filled both of their Open Cup games thus far with plenty of drama. In the previous round against One Knoxville SC it was 901 FC who struck first and conceded an equalizer after giving away a penalty. Then with precious few seconds separating the two teams from a nerve-shredding penalty shootout, Jeremy Kelly found the back of the net in the 124th minute to get the win for 901 FC.

In this round against Atlanta United the script was flipped. The Five Stripes scored first a mere three minutes into the game through a Tyler Wolff goal from just outside the six yard box. 901 FC then turned up the pressure and forced save after save after save out of Atlanta goalkeeper Clement Diop Degoud. Things were looking bleak for Memphis well into stoppage time when they were thrown a lifeline as this time it was their opponent who conceded the penalty. And in the 95th minute Philip Goodrum stepped up and buried the kick (his first goal of the year in any competition) to keep the game alive. Once the game was into extra time the wind was out of Atlanta United’s sails and only four minutes after the re-start, Memphis took the lead on a fabulous half volley by Nighte Pickering. That gave Memphis a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish.

There have been precious few Cupsets thus far in this edition of the tournament (Monterey Bay over the San Jose Earthquakes on Tuesday night was the most notable) but with their win over Atlanta, Memphis has stamped themselves as a force to be reckoned with in this year’s Open Cup. Don’t look now, but 901 FC is starting to catch fire as they are now riding a five game unbeaten streak across all competitions. And it can all be traced back to that last minute winner against Knoxville.

The next step for Memphis in the Open Cup is yet to be determined. Who they will play, when they will play them, and where the game will be played are all still to be determined. But Memphis 901 FC returns home this weekend for a regular season, USL rivalry game against Louisville City. Kickoff is set for Saturday night at 7pm downtown at AutoZone Park.