Pittsburgh, PA. — Birmingham Legion FC concluded its 2026 USL Championship regular season Saturday night, falling 2-1 to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at F.N.B. Stadium. Despite a late goal from Ronaldo Damus, Legion was unable to overcome Pittsburgh’s second-half scoring surge in its final match of the campaign.
The sides entered halftime scoreless after a competitive opening 45 minutes. Pittsburgh broke through in the 55th minute when Trevor Amann found the back of the net, giving the Riverhounds a 1-0 advantage. Just one minute later, Danny Griffin doubled the lead, putting Birmingham in a two-goal deficit.
Legion continued to push for a response and found its breakthrough in the 82nd minute. Dawson McCartney delivered the assist to Damus, who finished the opportunity to cut Pittsburgh’s lead to 2-1 and give Birmingham a chance to fight back late. Despite the late push, the Riverhounds held on to secure the victory.
Birmingham finished the match with 54.6% possession and completed 498 passes at an 82.3% accuracy rate. McCartney led Legion with four chances created, while Hamady Diop recorded a team-high 97 touches. Damus’ goal marked his seventh of the season.
Following the final whistle, Head Coach Jay Heaps reflected on the disappointing result while expressing gratitude for the supporters who stood behind the club throughout the season.
“Unfortunate way to end the season. I want to say thank you to all of those that supported Legion this season. Your continuous support means a lot to us,” said Heaps.
As the 2026 season comes to a close, Birmingham Legion FC extends its sincere thanks to every fan who showed up, cheered from the stands, watched from home and supported the club throughout the year. Through every win, challenge and moment in between, your support has meant everything to this team.
While the season may be over, the connection between Legion and its fans continues. Thank you for being part of the journey, Birmingham. We look forward to seeing you soon
