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Gameday Previews – Wednesday, June 21

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 06/20/23, 5:15PM EDT

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Memphis hosts Tulsa in first meeting since May deals, while New Mexico faces Phoenix hoping to gain ground


FC Tulsa forward Phillip Goodrum is set to face former club Memphis 901 FC for the first time since last month's transfer as the sides meet at AutoZone Park on Wednesday night. | Photo courtesy FC Tulsa

The first meeting between Memphis 901 FC and FC Tulsa after a pair of transactions that last month made waves in the USL Championship highlights Wednesday night’s slate of four games, with a notable rivalry set to renew in New Mexico also in store as Week 16 kicks off.

Here's a look ahead at all the action.

Birmingham Legion FC vs. Loudoun United FC

Venue: Protective Stadium
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: BHM 60%, LDN 18%, Draw 23%

The Lowdown: Birmingham Legion FC will look to build on a late victory last time out as it plays host to a Loudoun United FC side that has won its past two outings on what’s set to be a special night in the Magic City. Legion FC (6-7-1, 19pts) is set to welcome Birmingham native and United States international Chris Richards and new ownership group member Dominique Wilkins on Wednesday night with a chance to close the gap to the top five in the Eastern Conference with a second consecutive win, with Enzo Martinez’s 89th-minute goal having sent the side to a 2-1 result against Indy Eleven on Saturday night to get the club’s campaign back on track. Martinez’s goal was his team-leading sixth of the season, while Diba Nwegbo also found the net for the first time in the Championship to break a five-game winless streak for the side. The hosts will be looking to turn the tables on Loudoun (5-9-1, 16pts), which took a 3-0 victory when the teams met on April 15 as Wesley Leggett, Khalil ElMedkhar and Zach Ryan found the net at Segra Field, but United arrives at Protective Stadium on the back of two straight wins after taking a 2-1 result at Miami FC on Saturday night. Ryan notched his eighth goal of the season for United in the win, moving him one off the league-lead, with Wednesday night’s game offering a chance for the visitors to pull level on points in the playoff positions with Legion FC.

Spotlight Players
Birmingham Legion FC – Neco Brett:
The Jamaican came off the bench to provide the assist on Martinez’s game-winner on Saturday evening, marking a bright return to action after injury, and he could see more minutes here.

Loudoun United FC – Kalil ElMedkhar: The 23-year-old recorded a goal and assist when these teams met for the first time this season and has notched a goal and assist in the past two outings as United has turned its form around.

Memphis 901 FC vs. FC Tulsa

Venue: AutoZone Park
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: MEM 63%, TUL 16%, Draw 21%

The Lowdown: Memphis 901 FC and FC Tulsa will square off for the first time since a major pair of midseason moves last month with the hosts looking to maintain a 10-game undefeated streak after claiming victory at ONEOK Field in the first meeting between the sides this season. 901 FC took a 2-1 victory in Tulsa on May 19 behind goals from Aaron Molloy and Nighte Pickering, a result that preceded a pair of transfer deals between the two sides that sent forward Phillip Goodrum to Tulsa and playmaker Rodrigo da Costa to Memphis three days later. Both players are set to be in the spotlight on Wednesday night with Da Costa set to face the club for which he is the all-time goalscoring and assists leader for the first time as 901 FC (6-2-4, 22pts) tries to improve on a scoreless draw with Detroit City FC on Saturday night. Tulsa (2-6-7, 13pts) arrives aiming to end a three-game winless streak, meanwhile, having suffered a 3-0 setback to Orange County SC on Saturday with Goodrum likely to take the biggest spotlight on either side. An All-Championship selection last season for Memphis, the forward has scored twice in four games for Tulsa since his move and will be hoping to put one over on his former teammates and help his new club get back into the playoff race.

Spotlight Players
Memphis 901 FC – Rodrigo da Costa:
The Brazilian recorded 36 goals and 25 assists across the regular season and playoffs for FC Tulsa and is now likely to face his former club for the first time in 901 FC colors.

FC Tulsa – Phillip Goodrum: The young forward has notched two goals in four games for his new club, including the winner in the side’s most recent victory against Louisville City FC on May 24, and will be looking to put his best foot forward here.

Rio Grande Valley FC vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Venue: H-E-B Park
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: RGV 31%, COS 41%, Draw 28%

The Lowdown: Rio Grande Valley FC will try to break a recent winless run as it plays host to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in a game that could see the visitors jump back into the top four in the Western Conference standings with a win. The Toros (2-5-7, 13pts) claimed a point in dramatic fashion for a second consecutive outing this past Saturday as Christian Pinzon’s first goal of the season resulted in a 2-2 draw away at New Mexico United. The game saw Pinzon and offseason addition Juan Galindrez make their first appearances of the season for the side, with the former’s arrival offering hope of a similar revival that the Toros produced last season when Pinzon helped drive a run into the playoff positions. The hosts are looking for their first win since May 13 as the host Colorado Springs, however, with the Switchbacks (7-7-1, 22pts) coming off a 2-0 victory against Las Vegas Lights FC on Saturday that saw Romario Williams score his sixth goal of the season. The visitors currently sit in seventh place in the West but are only a point behind both Monterey Bay F.C. in fourth and San Diego Loyal SC in fifth. As the sides meet for the first time since the Switchbacks’ 3-0 victory in the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2022 USL Championship Playoffs, Colorado Springs could record another major boost to its playoff chances.

Spotlight Players
Rio Grande Valley FC – Juan Galindrez:
The former Chattanooga Red Wolves SC forward made his debut for the Toros on Saturday as a second-half substitute and could be in line for more action here as the hosts look for a first win at H-E-B Park this season.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – Deshane Beckford: The Jamaican winger notched his fourth assist of the season on Saturday, one off the league lead, and will be a player the hosts need to pay close attention to.

New Mexico United vs. Phoenix Rising FC

Venue: Isotopes Park
Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: NM 40%, PHX 33%, Draw 27%

The Lowdown: New Mexico United continues a crucial homestand as it plays host to Phoenix Rising FC with both sides having ended all square in their most recent outings this past weekend. New Mexico (4-6-3, 15pts) was denied a victory in new Head Coach Eric Quill’s first game at the helm as Rio Grande Valley FC scored a late equalizer after Justin Portillo and Daniel Bruce had put the hosts ahead at the halftime break. The result ended a three-game losing streak for United as Quill saw some of his ideas take hold and the hosts would earn a major boost to their playoff prospects with a victory against Rising FC, which sits three points ahead of New Mexico in eighth place in the standings. Phoenix (4-6-4, 18pts) also played to a 2-2 draw on Saturday as Manuel Arteaga scored his seventh goal of the season, but the side was denied a chance at victory when Danny Trejo’s penalty kick with just over 10 minutes to go was saved by LouCity goalkeeper Oliver Semmle. Rising FC is now winless in its last four games overall after ending all square in its past two games and will be looking for a victory to keep pace with the top seven in the standings against its longtime rival.

Spotlight Players
New Mexico United – Greg Hurst:
The Scottish forward could get the chance to square off against his last club as he looks to add to a pair of goals in 13 appearances in the league for United this season.

Phoenix Rising FC – Panos Armenakas: The Australian playmaker recorded his first full 90 minutes for Rising FC since his move from Loudoun United FC and will be looking to make an impact after notching two shots and two chances created against Louisville.

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