The last meeting between these two teams was perhaps the most soul-crushing moment in Memphis 901 FC history. In the 90th minute, with the score tied at 0-0 and a spot in the Eastern Conference Final in Louisville on the line, the Beale Street Boys were awarded a penalty. The penalty was saved. Surely that meant the game was headed to extra time. Unfortunately, it was not. Tampa came right down the field where they were awarded a penalty which was scored and with that Memphis 901 FC was eliminated from the playoffs.
Tampa seems to have something of a history of ruining good times in Memphis for 901 FC. Not only did they eliminate the Beale Street Boys from the playoffs last year, but they also spoiled the very first game for 901 FC back in 2019, again with a penalty. Before a crowd of 8,062 (which is still the third largest crowd for a 901 FC game) Tampa wasted no time in ruining the party as they were awarded a penalty in just the fourth minute of the game, which Sebastian Guenzatti buried. 901 FC would have a ton of chances that game but couldn’t convert any of them and fell 1-0.
Now is not the time to dwell on the past but to instead look forward. 901 FC begins a three game home stand against Tampa as they begin the final push to the playoffs. They are winless in their last three games but were able to get a road draw against Detroit City in their most recent outing, meaning they have still never lost to Detroit in their five meetings. With just eight games remaining, Memphis is still comfortably within the playoff places and might even be able to sneak up the table and get a home playoff game due to having a couple of extra games in hand over the two teams immediately ahead of them. And to help that final playoff push, 901 FC has brought in some reinforcements. On Monday they announced they had acquired 21-year-old Samiel Careaga on loan from Argentine club Atletico Lanus where he had made 20 appearances since signing in July of 2022.
Tampa has already locked up their spot in the playoffs and is currently on an absolute tear. They have won four straight games and five of their last six. On top of that, they had a draw before the win streak started so they are unbeaten in six of their last seven games. The lone loss in that stretch was a 1-0 loss on the road to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds who currently sit top of the Eastern Conference. Not only are they winning a ton, but they aren’t giving up goals either as they have conceded just four goals in those seven games.
When, Where
Date: Wednesday, September 6, 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 trails 1-4-0
Last Meeting
Date: Sunday, October 30, 2022
Venue: AutoZone Park
City: Memphis, Tennessee
Attendance: 6,063
Result: Memphis 901 FC 0-1 Tampa Bay Rowdies
Conference Standing
Memphis 901 FC: 6th in East (39pts)
Tampa Bay Rowdies: 2nd in East (50pts, clinched playoff spot)
Next Game
Date: Saturday, September 9, 2023
Competition: USL Regular Season
Match-Up: Memphis 901 FC vs. Monterey Bay FC
Venue: AutoZone Park
City: Memphis, Tennessee
Time: 7pm CT
TV: WMC 5.2, ESPN+
Tickets: Single Match Tickets
Photo Credit: D’Angelo Connell Photography