Monterey Bay Grinds Out 1-0 Win Over Gritty Memphis 901 FC, Jumps Back into Playoff Position with Third Consecutive Victory
MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Saturday, September 9, 2023) – Monterey Bay F.C. (10-11-7, 37 points) ground out an impressive 1-0 win at AutoZone Park in its first-ever match against Eastern Conference side Memphis 901 FC (11-8-9, 42 points). Alex Dixon converted an eventual game-winning penalty kick in the first half for his 11th goal of the season, while Carlos Herrera anchored the defense in a shutout on the road to help secure Monterey Bay’s third consecutive victory. The win lifts the Union back above the playoff line with six matches left to play, pending the night’s league results.
The hosts came flying out of the gates offensively with a dangerous chance just two minutes in. Following several quick passes for Memphis 901 FC around the box, Rodrigo da Costa blasted a half-volley shot on frame, but it was punched out by Herrera to deny the hosts an early goal. In the 18th minute, Alex Lara created an opportunity for Monterey Bay with a long ball over the top towards Ugo Okoli, but his shot missed wide of the far post. In the 30th minute, James Murphy played Chase Boone in with an impressive pass through the heart of the Memphis defense that led to a penalty for the Union due to a handball inside the box by the hosts. Dixon stepped up to the spot and buried his 11th goal of the season to the goalkeeper’s right to put the Crisp-and-Kelp in front 1-0 on the road. Memphis had an opportunity to level the match in the 37th minute with an apparent two on one, but Kai Greene stood his ground and cleared the ball away to end the chance. Then just before the half in the 42nd minute, Sam Gleadle turned on the jets to get beyond the defense on the counter. Looking to double the lead for Monterey Bay, Gleadle lifted the ball over the goalkeeper with the outside of his right foot, but the shot missed inches wide of the near post and the sides entered the halftime break with the Union ahead 1-0.
Memphis began the second half with yet another chance just minutes into the action, but the curling, left-footed shot from inside the box by Luiz Fernando was caught by Herrera. In the 50th minute, another counter attack for the hosts led to a shot by da Costa, but it missed wide of the far post. Monterey Bay pushed forward on a counter with a pass over the top by Rafael Baca in the 60th minute, but the Memphis goalkeeper beat a streaking Morey Doner to the ball and cleared it out to thwart the attack. Possession for Memphis 901 FC in the Monterey Bay side of the pitch led to a shot from the left side of the box by Bruno Lapa, but the attempt was blocked with a sliding effort by Doner in the 75th minute. With the hosts pushing everything forward to find an equalizer in stoppage time, Okoli found himself one-on-one down on a counter down the left side, but the ensuing shot missed over the top of the crossbar and the match ended 1-0 in favor of Monterey Bay.
Up Next: Monterey Bay returns to Seaside to host Las Vegas Lights FC on Hispanic Heritage Night at Cardinale Stadium on Saturday, September 16. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT and will be broadcast locally on KION (46 & 23 over the air, 46 Dish, 27 DirecTV and 5/705 HD Xfinity), with live streaming available on Hulu, Paramount+, YouTubeTV, FuboTV, and ESPN+.
Notes:
– Monterey Bay F.C.Head Coach Frank Yallop and Memphis 901 FC Head Coach Stephen Glass both played under the late legendary English manager Sir Bobby Robson; Yallop played under Robson at Ipswich Town, while Glass played for Robson at Newcastle United.
– Unavailable for selection in the match were Simon Dawkins (knee), Mobi Fehr (hamstring), Jesse Maldonado (knee), Grant Robinson (abdominal), and Nevello Yoseke (international duty).
Match: Memphis 901 FC vs Monterey Bay F.C.
Date: September 9, 2023
Venue: AutoZone Park; Memphis, Tennessee
Weather: Clear and 77 degrees
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Memphis 901 FC 0 0 0
Monterey Bay F.C. 1 0 1
MB: Alex Dixon (Penalty) 31’
Lineups:
Memphis 901 FC (4-2-3-1): Andrew Romig; Akeem Ward, Lucas Turci, Graham Smith, Aiden McFadden (Nighte Pickering, 85’); Aaron Molloy, Leston Paul (Rashawn Dally, 85’); Jeremy Kelly, Bruno Lapa, Luiz Fernando; Rodrigo da Costa
Subs not used: Aren Seeger, Jelani Peters, Carson Vom Steeg, Samuel Careaga, Laurent Kissiedou
Monterey Bay F.C. (5-4-1): Carlos Herrera; Sam Gleadle, Hugh Roberts, Kai Greene, Alex Lara, Morey Doner; Alex Dixon (Adrian Rebollar, 71’), Rafa Baca, James Murphy, Chase Boone (Walmer Martínez, 45’); Ugo Okoli
Subs not used: Antony Siaha, Max Glasser, Chuy Enríquez, Christian Volesky
Stats Summary: MEM / MB
Shots: 23 / 5
Shots on Goal: 7 / 1
Saves: 0 / 7
Corner Kicks: 7 / 0
Fouls: 8 / 11
Possession: 72.2% / 27.8%
Misconduct Summary:
MEM: Graham Smith (caution) 39’
MEM: Aiden McFadden (caution) 42’
MB: Adrian Rebollar (caution) 90+3’
Officials:
Referee: Abdou Ndiaye
Assistant Referee 1: Rhett Hammil
Assistant Referee 2: Austin Holt
Fourth Official: DeShun Beard
