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USL Memphis 901 FC

Memphis 901 FC Travels to Atlanta to Face Divisional Opponent

May 22, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Memphis 901 FC News Release


After dropping a close 1-0 contest to regional rival Birmingham Legion FC, Memphis 901 FC return to the road to face divisional opponent Atlanta United 2 in Kennesaw, Ga on Sunday, May 23 at 2:30 p.m. CT. The match at Fifth Third Bank Stadium will be televised on CW30 Memphis and ESPN+.

Last time out, John Berner earned Buff City Soap Man of the Match honors after an outing that saw the keeper make nine critical saves. Despite allowing one goal, Berner and the defensive backline performed well with Zach Carroll and Skylar Thomas leading the way with ten clearances and ten interceptions between the pair.

On the other side of the ball, the young attacking unit had their share of chances as chemistry improved throughout the duration of the match. Dre Fortune proved to be a key factor in chance creation as the midfielder was tied for the most shots and shots on target, with four and one, respectively, and led the squad with four key passes. Experienced winger Francis Atuahene also sent in four shots with one landing on target. Midfielder Laurent Kissiedou who had two shots and a team-high nine possessions gained returns to Atlanta where he made 45 appearances with the USL club from 2018 to 2019.

Atlanta United 2 enters the match with a 2-1-1 record and sit behind Central Division leader FC Tulsa despite defeating the team by tying a USL season-high five-goal margin on Wednesday night. The team has started the season with a loss to Louisville City FC before defeating and drawing with OKC Energy FC and finally defeating FC Tulsa.

In a young season that has seen an early resurgence of MLS affiliate clubs within the USL, Atlanta United 2 currently sits at second in the league with eight goals scored in four matches. While conceding four goals so far, Atlanta United 2 is tied for first in the league with two clean sheets thanks to a trio of rotating keepers in Ben Lundgaard, Vicente Reyes and Rocco Rio Novo, with the latter having first-team experience in Atlanta. Midfielder Aiden McFadden and forward Matías Benítez lead the team and are tied for third in the Eastern Conference with two goals apiece.

In three previous matchups, the all-time series record stands at 1-1-1 with a pair of dramatic finishes. While the first meeting between the clubs came in Memphis' inaugural season and saw Atlanta United 2 leave Memphis with a 1-0 victory in April 2019, the following two matches favored Memphis 901 FC. In their next meeting, a 1-0 Atlanta lead was wiped away courtesy of a late Adam Najem brace in August 2019. In their most recent matchup, a back-and-forth affair saw Cal Jennings equalize in stoppage time to salvage a draw in July 2020.

Memphis 901 FC and Atlanta United 2 will meet three more times before the season's conclusion and Memphis will welcome the club to AutoZone Park on June 16 for their first home game of the season. Next up, Memphis travels to Oklahoma City to face OKC Energy FC for the first time in club history on Saturday, May 29 at 7:30 p.m. CT.

For the latest information on the club, visit www.memphis901fc.com and follow the club on social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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