One Knoxville SC loses 2-1 heartbreaker in extra time to Memphis 901 FC in the US Open Cup
One Knoxville SC players sat on the grass after the final goal was scored.
They were not only exhausted after 120 minutes of playing due to extra time, but they appeared more so dejected after a heartbreaking defeat.
Coach Mark McKeever felt the same pain his players felt.
“I don’t feel good about it at all,” McKeever said. “There was a little bit a knife in the heart … if you don't do your job, you don't deserve to go into the penalty kicks.”
Memphis 901 FC defeated One Knoxville SC 2-1, eliminating them from the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at the Regal Soccer Stadium which had 1,821 attendance. One Knoxville (1-1) nearly had penalty kicks if it were able to prevent the game-winning goal from Memphis 901’s Jeremy Kelly.
The 26-year-old forward nailed the goal after the corner kick was unsuccessfully cleared by One Knoxville. Kelly had no defenders tight in his space and drilled the ball through the left part of the net.
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One Knoxville’s poor start
While neither team dominated early, Memphis 901 (1-2-1) had a few more shots. It found the first score at the 38th minute from Dylan Borczak who had a diving header through the goal.
McKeever said that his unit was not polished to start the first half.
“I was very disappointed in the first half,” McKeever said. “I think partly what we are trying to do is excite the crowd … I don't feel as though we played even remotely close to our potential. But with a few choice words at halftime, they changed that.”
The team managed to quickly turn it around after the first 45 minutes, creating better scoring chances at the onset of the second half.
One Knox tied with its lone goal at the 56th minute after a foul in the box rewarded forward Ilja Ilic a penalty kick that he drilled.
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Memphis 901 talent showed
Memphis 901’s Bill Hamid, a 12-year MLS pro and a member of the U.S. men’s national team from 2012-20, was a valuable player in the victory. Outside of his defense, the rest looked like a model USL Championship team compared to a new USL League One team playing its second professional game ever in One Knoxville.
“Our opponents are fantastic,” McKeever said. “They’re graceful on the ball, they move the ball so well, the movement, the receiving skills, so to match up with that I think is a feather in your cap because that's what we're trying to do and that's what we're trying to get to.”
Looking ahead
McKeever said he was glad his team responded after a rough first half and continued a strong effort in a long game.
“The unit didn't impress me in the first half, but … they were incredible in the second half,” McKeever said. “They showed some great grit and desire in overtime, which is hard to do. It’’s hard to go into contests like this against an opponent and perform for 120 minutes. That's an incredible feat, so I'm proud.”
The next match One Knoxville plays will be a road match against the Chattanooga Red Wolves on April 8.
Toyloy Brown III is a Knox News sports reporter. Email tbrown@usatoday.com. Twitter @TJ3rd_.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: One Knoxville SC loses 2-1 heartbreaker to Memphis 901 FC in the US Open Cup
