Memphis 901 FC @ Loudoun United preview: Morning kickoff in Virginia

In one of the more bizarre experiences in 901 FC history, their upcoming game against Loudoun United kicks off at 11am local time (10am in Memphis). It seems to be part of “Camp Day” being put on by Loudoun with a variety of kids activities and of course, mimosas for the adults.

But strange things have been known to happen when 901 FC visits Loudoun. Just last year, a game with an early afternoon kickoff turned into a nearly six-hour ordeal that meant 901 FC didn’t get home until the wee hours of the following morning, causing then-manager Ben Pirmann to remark, “Teams in first place aren’t allowed to take naps.”

That day Memphis got a 3-0 win and went to first place in the Eastern Conference. Now, however, the circumstances are somewhat different. 901 FC comes into this game against Loudoun on the back of a winless month of July. During that month they posted a record of zero wins, four losses, and two draws. In that stretch they conceded at least four goals in four out of the six games. In each of the last two games they blew a 2-0 lead and had somebody sent off and shown a red card. Against Orange County they then had a 3-2 lead which they also lost. Making matters worse were the send-offs of Jeremy Kelly and Bruno Lapa. Most recently on the road in Pittsburgh the 2-0 lead turned into a 4-2 loss with Graham Smith getting a red card.

It may not look good at the moment, but all is not lost for 901 FC. Despite their horrendous run of recent form, they are still reaping the benefits of a twelve-game unbeaten streak from April to June as they are still well within the playoff places in 5th place. They also have several games in hand on everybody else in the Eastern Conference, which should they manage to win all three, would vault them right back into second place.

The Beale Street Boys got some more good news even during the loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday. Carson Vom Steeg made his return to the squad in the 63rd minute after an extended absence due to a knee injury. Prior to this past Saturday, Vom Steeg’s last appearance for Memphis was back on June 10th against Louisville City, where he sustained the meniscus injury. His return will most definitely help shore up a defense that hasn’t kept a clean sheet in seven games, dating back to a 4-0 win over FC Tulsa on June 21st.

Fortunately for 901 FC, they are prepping for a Loudoun United team that isn’t particularly good. They currently sit second from the bottom in the Eastern Conference. In fact, they are the third worst team in the whole of the USL Championship, ahead of only the hapless Hartford Athletic in the East and the Las Vegas Lights in the West. Like 901 FC, they too had a terrible month of July as they posted a record of 1-1-3. Nor has their attack showed much promise, with only one multi-goal game in their last six (a 2-1 win over the aforementioned Hartford Athletic on July 3rd). If anybody for Loudoun is going to trouble the 901 FC defense, it figures to be Jackson Hopkins who has four goals in their last seven games.

When, Where

Date: Wednesday, August 2, 2023

Venue: Segra Field

City: Leesburg, Virginia

Time: 10am CT

TV: WMC 5.2, ESPN+

All-Time Series

Series tied at 2-2-1

Last Meeting

Date: Saturday, March 11, 2023

Venue: AutoZone Park

City: Memphis, Tennessee

Attendance: 4,001

Result: Memphis 901 FC 1-3 Loudoun United

Conference Stading

Memphis 901 FC: 5th in East (30pts)

Loudoun United: 11th in East (20pts)

Next Game

Date: Saturday, August 5, 2023

Competition: USL Regular Season

Match-Up: Memphis 901 FC @ Indy Eleven

Venue: IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium

City: Indianapolis, Indiana

Time: 6pm CT

TV: WMC 5.2, ESPN+

Photo Credit: D’Angelo Connell Photography