The Memphis Tigers competed the full 90 minutes in their home debut, drawing 1-1 versus Georgia State. The Tigers remain unbeaten as their record moves to 2-0-1.
The action was quiet in the first 80 minutes and that’s when each team opened the scoreboard. Georgia State struck first as Dylan Williams scored for them in the 80th minute. Memphis retaliated two minutes later as Jackson Kim scored to even the score.
Unfortunately, the match did not go as smoothly as it ended in controversy. In the 88th minute, Memphis felt that they should have been awarded a penalty kick. In the final ten seconds, Georgia State thought there should have been a handball call, which would’ve led to a penalty.
However, neither was called for each team and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Memphis goes quiet in the First Half
The Tigers saw themselves playing defensively for the majority of the first half. It looked as if Memphis would draw first blood as Hayden Anderson’s shot hit off the post in the third minute.
Furthermore, the Tigers were quiet and found themselves playing back on defense despite Georgia State only getting off one shot. Strategy and possessions seemed to be the theme of the first half.
Surprisingly, the Tigers played sloppy for the majority of the first half. Turnovers, bad passes, handballs, and fouls all prematurely ended Memphis’ possessions and counterattacks.
Memphis Substitutions
- Elie Bokota for Hayden Anderson (27′)
- Kodai Tanaka for Jose Maria Ojeda (27′)
- Anders Borody for Alberto Cruz (27′)
- Cory Pitlik for Hyeonsang Jang (27′)
- Robbie Baker for Jackson Kim (37′)
Both Teams turn up the intensity in the second half
Overall, the second half was more of the same for Memphis, however, Lineker Rodrigues dos Santos nearly broke the tie in the 48th minute. Then, Colin Welsh made a diving save in the 62nd minute to keep Georgia State off the board.
From there, the second half was packed with stalling counterattacks and corner kicks. That was until Georgia State’s Williams scored on a rebound to put them up.
The play saw Welsh fall outside of the net and it was open for the Panthers’ taking. The goal put an end to his 260-minute clean sheet streak.
However, Memphis would retaliate two minutes later as Kim scored off a corner kick from Eric Primo to even the score.
Furthermore, each team went all-out in the final minutes in an effort to break the tie in their favor.
The Controversy
In the 88th minute, the Tigers were in prime position to score off a corner kick. Unfortunately, it ended empty-handed in a controversial foul on Kim as he went up for a header.
Memphis pleaded for a foul that would have resulted in a potential game-changing penalty kick. During the play, Kim could be seen being held down by a Georgia State defender.
Then, Georgia State earned a corner kick in the final ten seconds, but that ended in controversy as well. The Panthers made an argument for a handball on Memphis, however, no call was made and time ran out.
Obviously, each team left the field in visible frustration as one call on each side would have changed the outcome in their favor.
Memphis Substitutions
- Alberto Cruz for Eric Primo (64′)
- Hyeonsang Jang for Kodai Tanaka (64′)
- Hayden Anderson for Brandon Brackett (64′)
- Jose Maria Ojeda for Anders Borody (64′)
- Jackson Kim for Cody Pitlik (64′)
- Eric Primo for Hyeonsang Jang (80′)
- Logan Longo for Dino Stavros (84′, injury)
- Brandon Brackett for Elie Bokota (86′)
Memphis Post-Game Analysis
Overall, the Tigers looked out of sync in this game. First, the multiple chances in open space to create an attack ended with bad passes or bad fouls committed. Memphis looked uncomfortable versus the Georgia State defense.
Second, for the first time all year, Memphis was forced to play more conservatively and more defensively. However, that’s no discredit towards Georgia State as they fought and held their own.
As I watched the game in person, I did not see that same confident Memphis team that I watched on the road. Furthermore, a game of this caliber will be a learning experience to prepare for conference play. Especially since the Tigers evened the score in what could have been a potential loss.
Undoubtedly, the players of the game are Kim and Primo.
Kim scored the team’s only goal with a header, which came in the most crucial time. Additionally, he made key plays that ended Georgia State attacks as the final line of defense.
Primo was responsible for putting the ball in play off the corner and assisting Kim’s goal. He set up many chances for Memphis, but the team just could not take advantage of it in the box.
