BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Birmingham Legion FC found a dramatic late equalizer on Sunday afternoon as Sebastian Tregarthen’s 89th-minute goal secured a 1-1 draw against Loudoun United FC at Protective Stadium on Father’s Day and Paw Patrol Night.
The two sides battled through a scoreless first half, with Birmingham controlling possession and creating several promising opportunities. Legion finished the match with 60.1 percent possession and generated 20 shots, but Loudoun goalkeeper Ethan Bandré and the visitors’ defense kept the Black and Gold off the scoreboard through the opening 88 minutes.
Loudoun broke the deadlock in the 67th minute when Abdellatif Aboukoura finished off a chance created by Bandré to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage.
Facing a one-goal deficit late, Legion continued to push forward in search of an equalizer. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 89th minute when Sebastián Saucedo delivered a ball into the box that found Tregarthen, who calmly finished to level the match at 1-1. “He’s a difference maker when he’s out there.” Jay Heaps says.
The afternoon also marked the final appearance at Protective Stadium for 18-year-old defender Ramiz Hamouda before his move to Germany to join SV Werder Bremen. Hamouda, who came through Birmingham’s pathway to earn opportunities with both the club and U.S. youth national teams, received a warm ovation from the home supporters as his Legion career came to a close. ” This is a club I’m always going to remberer” Ramiz says, “it will always hold a special place in my heart.”
The goal was Tregarthen’s third of the USL Championship season and Saucedo’s first league assist of the year. “I’m the lucky one who made this goal, but I feel like everyone had a part,” Tregarthen says.
Birmingham continued pressing during stoppage time but could not find a winner before the final whistle.
The Black and Gold finished with advantages in possession, shots (20-14), touches in the opposition box (25-19), and expected goals (1.41-0.89), earning a point against one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams.
Legion is back at home on July 2nd at Protective Stadium for a military appreciation night.
