901FC clinched a playoff spot after a 0-0 draw with Sacramento Republic FC.
The game was a violent matchup with 29 fouls from both teams and an astonishing eight yellow cards flashed.
Memphis made up most of the yellow cards with six. Sacramento had 18 fouls, making up for most fouls.
Both goalkeepers played very well and ended with a clean sheet.
Sacramento’s keeper, Danny Vitiello, had three saves and prevented many crosses from Memphis in the penalty box. He leads the USL with clean sheets with 14.
Memphis keeper, Tyler Derrick, had two saves and was active in the penalty box.
Sacramento started the game out strong for about 15 minutes. They achieved a shot on goal and put Memphis defenders in tricky situations, resulting in Abdoulaye Cissoko and Zack Duncan getting early yellow cards.
At about the 18th minute, the tempo started to change with Memphis starting to keep control and had the momentum. Despite this Memphis kept getting yellow cards.
After a call Memphis player Oscar Jimenez disagreed with, he had a verbal altercation with the head referee and got booked in the 26th minute.
Assistant coach Caleb Sewell of Memphis got booked after he got upset with the head referee booking Jimenez.
In the 30th minute, Sacramento player Harvey Neville fouled a Memphis player right outside the penalty box. Neville was booked with a yellow card, and Memphis was awarded a free kick. The free kick neared the goal but was intercepted by the keeper.
Damià Viader on Sacramento got booked with a yellow in the 39th minute.
After the free kick from the booking, Memphis got the ball into the penalty box. Cissoko attempted a shot, but a Sacramento defender blocked it. Memphis players were adamant the block was a handball, but the referees did not call it.
Nearing the end of the half, Memphis keeper Dierick stopped an attempted shot by Sacramento.
The second half was almost all but uneventful.
A Sacramento player almost committed an own goal in the 53rd minute but luckily for him, the ball hit the crossbar.
Within three minutes, Memphis players Marlon and Walid Yacoubou were booked in the 69th and 73rd minute.
Sacramento had a scoring opportunity in the 83rd minute but the Memphis defenders suppressed it.
In extra time near the end of the game, Memphis’ Panos Armenakas took a far-out shot that just trimmed right over the crossbar.
The final whistle blew, resulting in a 0-0 draw.
Memphis still has not beaten the Sacramento Republic in three total matchups against each other.
