Memphis 901 FC knocked out of the U.S. Open Cup in the Round of 32

The seven game unbeaten streak has come to an end for Memphis in a 3-0 defeat to Birmingham Legion, as the Southern Harm rivalry met the magic of the U.S. Open Cup.

Enzo Martinez, the leading goal scorer for the Legion this season, led the way for the home side in spectacular fashion. An assist from a corner kick and a crafty finish all inside the first 45 minutes made all the difference. The third goal was scored from a counter attack by Tyler Pasher.

The game opened up in favor of 901 FC, who earned the first free kick and shot attempt of the night — a stellar effort from Akeem Ward that hit the post. This seemed to awaken the Legion, however, and they found their footing with a couple spurts of offensive firepower.

Memphis held a stark advantage in possession, but had real trouble creating any chances from it. The first shot on goal did not come until the 51st minute of play. An offense that has hit its stride, relying on depth and quality, did not look like itself. Birmingham did a solid job limiting space in the midfield and were comfortable defending on the wing.

A downside to a cup run can be the amount of matches played in a short time. That is a lot of minutes logged for the same starting eleven has been used by 901 FC since the winning streak started back in mid-April. The early deficit just added fuel to the fire.

With the cup in the rearview mirror, Memphis now has the ability to put 100 percent of their focus on the USL Championship, with the next match on Saturday, May 13th at AutoZone Park against the Colorado Springs Switchbacks.