Fans inside AutoZone Park were treated to a 5-1 win over Miami FC, with goals coming in abundance in the sweltering heat. Jeremy Kelly scored 58 seconds into the match, Aaron Molloy and Jeremy Kelly were beneficiaries of penalties, and Nighte Pickering and Akeem Ward capped off the night with goals of their own.
The two week break coming into this game did not slow Memphis down at all, as the unbeaten streak has now reached 8 — which started against this same Miami team over two months ago.
Memphis was missing an attacking piece tonight in Luiz Fernando who was out with a left quad injury. Drew Romig was in goal for the third time this year, his first time between the sticks since the first two games of the season where Memphis had lost 3-1 both times.
Recap
Set pieces coming from Aaron Molloy are goal-threatening no matter the time or area of the pitch, and should put the opposing defense on high alert. Miami, however, was caught sleeping inside the first minute of the match. A Molloy corner kick soared just outside of the box and onto the foot of Jeremy Kelly, who scored with pinpoint accuracy into the bottom-left corner.
Miami continued to struggle with their attack, midfield and back-three all on the back foot. Their bodies had ventured onto the pitch but it seemed their minds were elsewhere. All of the pressure they were absorbing from 901 FC eventually turned into costly mistakes: two penalty-inducing handballs.
The first came from yet another Molloy corner kick with Bruno Lapa sending the ball into the arm of a Miami defender. Molloy, who had missed a penalty earlier in the season, took the ball from Lapa and scored from the spot. Just 14 minutes later, Laurent Kissiedou’s lofted ball into the box forced the second one (although the call might have been harsh, with the defender’s arm more to his side). Bruno Lapa scored the penalty, sending the goalkeeper the other way. The score was now 3-0 with all the momentum favoring 901 FC.
Miami responded with a goal of their own to end the half through an unmarked Bolu Akinyode’ header coming from a corner kick. This provided Miami with a lifeline heading into the final 45 minutes, but their hope was quickly drained due to another error.
Just four minutes into the 2nd half, goalscorer Akinyode picked up his second yellow with an ill-timed challenge on Molloy in the midfield. 901 FC were able to capitalize on the numbers advantage by quickly pinging the ball across the field of play and putting Miami into tough situations.
It took time for 901 FC to dissect the defense, but a flurry of goals eventually came to put the game to bed. The first came from Nighte Pickering who beautifully chipped the ball over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net. Akeem Ward followed up by scoring his first goal of the season off a through ball from Rece Buckmaster.
Rodrigo da Costa, who Memphis received from the Phillip Goodrum trade with FC Tulsa, made his first appearance with 901 FC in the match — subbed on in the 60th minute. It was an ideal situation with the big lead and man advantage, but he still made the best of it by getting involved in chances almost immediately.
Memphis will have 4 more games in June, including home matches featuring a playoff rematch against Detroit City and Ben Pirmann’s return against Charleston Battery.
(Photos: D’Angelo Connell Photography)