Memphis 901 FC @ Charleston Battery Preview

For only the second time in team history, Memphis 901 FC is getting set to face a former manager. When the Beale Street Boys travel to Charleston to take on the Battery, they’ll be facing the man who ran the show before Stephen Glass was named the head coach following the 2022 season. In Ben Pirmann, they’ll be facing a coach who guided them to consecutive playoff appearances and won a playoff game for the first time in team history. With the Battery flying high at the moment, it figures to be a stern challenge awaiting 901 FC.

The form of late for Memphis has been somewhat hit and miss. In their last five games they have five two wins, two losses, and one draw. They took a 4-1 defeat on the road against Orange County SC before turning around and picking up three huge points in a 1-0 win on the road against Detroit City (who has still never beaten 901FC). Following the win in Detroit, the Beale Street Boys suffered a 1-0 loss on the road against FC Tulsa. Immediately following the Tulsa game was a gutty, shorthanded win against San Antonio FC back at AutoZone Park, in which 901 FC found a way to win 1-0 despite having a host of players out with injury and suspension. Most recently was a 0-0 home draw with El Paso Locomotive, a game that featured precious few real scoring chances, though new goalkeeper Triston Henry was called into action in the second half to make a fantastic save.

But to gear up for the final third of the season, Memphis 901 FC has brought in several new players. They signed forward Jon Bakero to a short-term deal. They, of course, signed Triston Henry who has already done very well in keeping consecutive clean sheets between the sticks for Memphis. And they also scored a coup of sorts in bringing in Panos Aremenakas from the Phoenix Rising. With these new signings, and a few injured players getting healthy again, Memphis 901 FC figures to be in good shape as they fight to stay in the home playoff places.

Charleston currently sits second in the Eastern Conference, which is not nearly as tight of a race as the Western Conference. While the gap from second to ninth (just outside the playoffs) in the West is only 9 points, the gap from second to ninth in the East is a whopping 20 points. And while 901 FC in 4th place is only three points back of Sacramento in 2nd place, Indy Eleven in 4th is nine points back of Charleston in 2nd.

The Battery have built such a tremendous lead by virtue of having only lost three times all season. In fact, they have lost just once in their last eight games (a 4-2 loss on the road against the Tampa Bay Rowdies). Charleston’s most recent time out was an absolute beatdown of Indy Eleven in Charleston. How bad was the beat down? The final score was 5-0, with five different players pitching in with a goal.

When, Where

Date: Saturday, August 10, 2024

Venue: Patriots Point Athletic Complex

City: Charleston, SC

Time: 6:30pm CT

TV: WMC 5.3, ESPN+, TUDN

All-Time Series

Memphis 901 FC leads 3-2-0

Last Meeting

Date: Saturday, June 24, 2023

Venue: AutoZone Park

City: Memphis, TN

Attendance: 3,688

Result: Memphis 901 FC 3-2 Charleston Battery

Conference Standing

Memphis 901 FC: 4th in West (32pts)

Charleston Battery: 2nd in East (46pts)

Next Game

Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2024

Competition: USL Regular Season

Match-Up: Memphis 901 FC @ Miami FC

Venue: FIU Stadium

City: Miami, FL

Time: 6pm CT

TV: WMC 5.3, ESPN+