Memphis 901 FC vs. Indy Eleven preview

If it feels like it’s been a long time since Memphis 901 FC’s last home game, that’s because it has been a long time since Memphis 901 FC’s last home game. The last time the Beale Street Boys were on the field at AutoZone Park was just over a month ago. But now they’re finally home and have had some down time following their last outing (a 1-0 win away to the San Diego Loyal ten days ago). They used that down time to hold an open practice that was attended by over 700 youth players at the new Snowden Grove Soccer Park in Southaven. Now they turn their attention to a foe they bested earlier this month: Indy Eleven.

Back on July 22nd, they played host to Orange County SC and fell by a score of 4-0 in front of 3,971 downtown. It’s been quite a sojourn since then as, not only were the two games prior to Orange County on the road (both draws out in California against the Sacramento Republic and the Oakland Roots), but the four games following the Orange County loss were all on the road as well. The road trip started off rough with 4-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. But following a 0-0 draw against Loudoun United (that kicked off a 11am in the Washington DC area as part of a kids camp day) the Beale Street Boys got back into the win column with consecutive positive results, 2-1 over Indy Eleven and then 1-0 over San Diego Loyal. The three-game point streak has allowed them to move up into 4th place in the Eastern Conference.

901 FC has been gone from home for so long that the roster may look a little different to folks than it did before they left. Perhaps most importantly, Carson vom Steeg made his return during the Pittsburgh game after missing eight games with an injury he picked up in early June against Louisville City. His return has helped steady the Memphis defense which has kept two clean sheets in the three games since his return (and held Indy to a single goal in the other). But the return of vom Steeg wasn’t the only big roster news for Memphis. The team announced this past Friday that they and Bill Hamid, billed as the biggest signing in club history, had mutually agreed to part ways. Hamid appeared in thirteen games for Memphis and made his final appearance against Sacramento Republic last month. Drew Romig has done well the last three games and will bear the main shot stopping responsibility moving forward and will be facing an Indy Eleven team they were just able to hold to a single goal.

Since losing to 901 FC back on August 5th, Indy Eleven seems to have flipped a switch. Prior to that loss a few weeks ago, Indy was a team that was not playing well. They won just one game during the month of July. But losing to Memphis must have been some sort of wake-up call because they’ve won every game since then. First was a resounding 4-0 win over the Birmingham Legion. They followed that up with a 1-0 road win over Miami FC. Most recently was a 3-2 thriller that they pulled out over the El Paso Locomotive. The run of good form has allowed Indy to move from 8th place in their last meeting with 901 FC to 6th place in the Eastern Conference.

When, Where

Date: Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Venue: AutoZone Park

City: Memphis, Tennessee

Time: 7pm CT

TV: WMC 5.2, ESPN+

Radio: Sirius XMFC Channel 157

Tickets: Single Match Tickets

All-Time Series

Memphis leads 5-3-2

Last Meeting

Date: Saturday, August 5, 2023

Venue: IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium

City: Indianapolis, Indiana

Result: Memphis 901 FC 2-1 Indy Eleven

Conference Standing

Memphis 901 FC: 4th in East (37pts)

Indy Eleven: 6th in East (34pts)

Next Game

Date: Saturday, August 26, 2023

Competition: USL Regular Season

Match-Up: Memphis 901 FC @ Charleston Battery

Venue: Patriots Point Soccer Complex

City: Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Time: 6:30pm CT

TV: WMC 5.2, ESPN+

Photo Credit: D’Angelo Connell Photography