The Tulsa v Memphis Rivalry to be Renewed Tomorrow Night
UPDATE: Match time has been postponed to 9:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday, April 13 due to severe weather in Memphis. Original story is below.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – On what promises to be a wet and dreary evening as storms rip through Tennessee from west to east, FC Tulsa travels to the City of Blues for the first of three straight matches away from home as the new-found rivalry between the 918 and the 901 is renewed in 2022.
FC Tulsa and Memphis 901 FC matched up four times last year as a result of both clubs occupying two of the eight spots in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference, a format that was replaced in 2022 with a simpler two-conference configuration.
Memphis was victorious in three of the four matches with FC Tulsa, but both clubs shook things up in the offseason and came into 2022 with a very different look. Memphis totaled eight goals in those four matches against Tulsa, but only two came courtesy of a player still on the club’s roster in 2022, Laurent Kissiedou. For FC Tulsa, no players with goals against Memphis in 2021 are present in this year’s squad.
Although early in the season, Tulsa will play to defend its top-three position in the East on Wednesday night as Memphis enters in eighth place but has earned points in its last three matches.
Kickoff from AutoZone Park is set for 7:00 p.m. CT.
SCOUTING MEMPHIS 901 FC
Coming off its first-ever trip to the postseason and a year in which it won more matches than it lost, Memphis 901 FC made significant roster changes for the 2022 season and enters Wednesday’s match in need of some offense. The Tennessee side has scored only four times through four matches, tied for the second fewest goals scored in the USL Championship, and comes in last in the league with 30 total shots. However, 901 FC is one of just five clubs to have only played four league matches so far in 2022, so there is plenty of opportunity to get the shooting boots knotted.
In the offseason, key departures such as keeper Cody Cropper, former-captain Mark Segbers, and forward Kyle Murphy who scored 21 times last season, have left gaps in the Starting XI that are still in the process of being repaired. The second half could prove the difference maker in this midweek match – 901 FC has conceded four of the five goals it has allowed and scored only once in the second half of matches this season.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW
1) Matches Played
With only four league matches played this season, Memphis 901 FC is tied with five other clubs for the fewest in the USL Championship. Conversely, FC Tulsa is one of six clubs with six matches played already, tying Tulsa for the most in the USL Championship. 12 Tulsa players have more appearances and seven have more starts than Memphis has matches played this season.
2) Two-Headed Attack
FC Tulsa’s attack has been fueled by a two-headed monster up front in 2022 made up by JJ Williams and Rodrigo da Costa. Each man has three goals apiece, tied for the club lead. FC Tulsa is one of only four clubs in the league to have two players with three or more goals each, accompanied by Las Vegas, Pittsburgh, and El Paso.
3) Williams Won’t Stop
With his 80’ minute goal last time out, JJ Williams scored his third goal of the last two matches, both of which were his first two starts for FC Tulsa. Tied with Rodrigo da Costa for the club lead in goals, the 6’3” forward from Birmingham, Ala. has made an instant impact in the Starting XI for FC Tulsa in his inaugural season with the club. Williams is averaging 0.99 goals per 90, good for the 9th-best in the USL Championship and is third best for anyone with over 200 minutes logged in 2022. He is also the first player in franchise history to score in both of his first two starts with the club.
HOW TO WATCH
As with all FC Tulsa matches, fans can catch the action locally on My41 through the club’s partnership with Fox23. The match can also be streamed on ESPN+.
Follow @FCTulsa on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for all in-game highlights, updates and stats throughout matchday.
