Memphis 901 FC shut out by Nashville SC

Ahead of Memphis 901 FC’S two matches against Nashville SC this season, the billing was of a rivalry tilt between two in-state squads.

Whether it was the rivalry or 901 FC’S frustration with the match result, the game came to a boiling point in the 87th minute as the two teams got into a skirmish in the corner of the field that had to be separated by the officials.

Memphis midfielder Cam Lindley and Nashville forward Kharlton Belmar were issued yellow cards for the confrontation that didn’t amount to much but shoving in a 2-0 defeat on Wednesday at home to Nashville for the second time this season.

901 FC head coach Tim Mulqueen downplayed the conflict.

“Boys will be boys,” Mulqueen said. “I’ve seen a lot worse.”

Memphis was also shut out by Nashville 2-0 in an April 13 match in Nashville.

One of Memphis’ multiple opportunities to get on the board was taken away early in the game. In the eighth minute, after several ricochets around the goalie box, forward Brandon Allen [a former Nashville SC player] hit a shot into the back of the net and began to celebrate. But the officials quickly overruled the goal, calling Allen offsides.

“I thought that first goal was a goal,” Memphis midfielder Cam Lindley said of the overturned call. “But that’s soccer and we’ve got to hold our heads a little bit high because we had a decent performance.”

Nashville defender Jimmy Ockford scored the first goal in the 42nd minute off a free kick from midfielder Lebo Moloto. Forward Daniel Rios tacked on another goal in the 49th minute.

From then, Nashville stacked their side of the field with extra defenders, raising the attacking difficulty for 901 FC.

After tying a season-high with four goals in a July 6 win over Hartford, Memphis failed to score a goal for the third time in the last five matches.

“I thought we responded pretty well, but it was deflating,” Lindley said. “But we have to be better professionals and handle the game a little bit better.”

Reach Commercial Appeal staff writer Daniel Oyefusi at daniel.oyefusi@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter at @Danieloyefusi.