Shorthanded Memphis 901 FC collect three points in return home

Memphis were without numerous starters due to injuries or suspensions, had to defend for long stretches of play and were debuting two players signed during the week. Still, they were able to come away victorious against San Antonio FC to extend their home unbeaten streak to seven games.

“For that group of players, I’m so proud of them,” head coach Stephen Glass said. “It’s unbelievable.”

The new reinforcements, arriving after a month-long road stretch, were goalkeeper Triston Henry and Jon Bakero. Henry filled his trophy case in the Canadian Premier League with four championships and two Golden Gloves. Bakero has USL Championship experience and was teammates with Bruno Lapa at Wake Forest.

Both entered the starting lineup with Marlon Santos and Tyler Deric unavailable.

Henry dealt with a couple of San Antonio attacks in the opening minutes. He collected his first save in the ninth minute with a dive to combat a shot from outside the box. Despite the positive start from the visitors, the match evened out quickly with a 901 response. Akeem Ward and Bakero had promising shots, each straying wide of the goal.

“Jon was amazing. His hold up play was great, bringing people in and he was a threat as well,” Glass said of Bakero’s performance.

Luiz Fernando was heavily involved in the chance creation for Memphis. His efforts on the left wing started the patient build-up that led to the breakthrough in the 30th minute. Nighte Pickering’s strike was deflected after a string of passes around the box. The ball spun right into the path of Sameul Careaga who fired it first-time into the back of the net.

Memphis continued to venture into the final third. Five minutes after the opening goal, Bakero sent a cross towards the back post. Ward picked the ball out of the air with a right-footed strike but hit the right post. Alvarado Quezada, in his third start of the season, had a shot from inside the box as well.

There was plenty of physicality in the midfield amidst the energetic play from Memphis. Twenty fouls were conceded in the first half with each club receiving two yellow cards (901’s Zachary Duncan, Pickering). The whistles lingered after the break which prevented any flow from building.

The action to begin the second half mirrored the first. Memphis were pushed back as San Antonio threatened. Possession remained fairly even but the countering surge from Memphis did not arrive, instead stuck in their own half for a large chunk of the half. Henry made a kick save from point-blank range and punched away a ball in the box to add to his solid first start with Memphis.

“He did everything that we were hoping,” Glass said. “When new boys come in and join, we are really happy when we get a win and they play a huge part in it as well.”

Several stoppages in play prompted seven minutes of extra time. San Antonio attacked, Memphis cleared and the pattern repeated. Henry was once again called to action in the 95th minute, pushing a header over the crossbar. Memphis survived the remaining minutes after bringing on backup goalkeeper Aren Seeger to replace Bakero.

Next Game

Memphis will look to extend their unbeaten streak at home against El Paso Locomotive. The match is Saturday, August 3 at 7:30pm.