
BIRMINGHAM, AL (Oct. 10, 2021) – Legion FC kept the good times rolling with a decisive 3-1 win, the team’s fourth in a row, this time over Indy Eleven on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in downtown Birmingham.
Forward Neco Brett kicked things off with a sweet finish in the 8th minute, midfielder Eli Crognale hit another banger just four minutes after subbing on in the second half, and defender Jake Rufe scored his first professional goal with a long-range effort he let fly from inside his own half to seal the deal in second half stoppage time.
Brett’s goal was his 16th of the season, good for fifth-most in the USL Championship. Off a Legion throw-in, Ryan James slipped a pass through a defender’s legs and into the box for Brett, and the Jamaican pulled off a curling effort into the top right corner to get the home side on the board.
The visitors finished the half with three shots, and only one on target, from 43% possession, but the one shot from midfielder Nicky Law found the back of the net in the 42nd minute to send both teams into the half all knotted up at one. Indy defender Nick Moon got in behind down the right and found Law at the top of the six-yard box for a one-time finish.
Birmingham got off 13 shots in the second half, and 23 for the game, and yet again, Legion FC coaches’ second half substitutions came on and made immediate impacts. After subbing on in the 70th minute, Crognale stepped up to a bouncing ball outside the opposing area and volleyed it first time over the frozen Indy goalkeeper for his second rocket of a goal in recent weeks.
“I think all of [the substitutes] that came in did a really good job,” said Assistant Coach Khano Smith. Ben [Ofeimu] went in with specific instructions, Jaden [Servania] went in and it was his opportunity to prove himself and I think he did that tonight. Zach [Herivaux] gave his energy as well. Look, I’m not surprised, and I said this to you last time, the guy can shoot. I’m so, so happy for Jake Rufe. The guy deserves it. He shows up and works hard every day, he doesn’t complain, and he doesn’t moan. He’s a consummate professional and teammate. That moment couldn’t have happened to a better guy, he’s been through a lot, and he deserved that moment.”
Indy kept pressing forward looking for the equalizer, and after pulling their ‘keeper up for an attacking corner kick, Legion cleared its lines, midfielder Anderson Asiedu found Rufe, and the defender picked his head up, and hit a 60-yard ball perfectly down the middle of an empty net to secure the win and ran to his family in the stands at the final whistle.
“They were just so proud and so happy,” said Rufe. “I told them it was nice for that [Indy player] to slow up at the end and let it roll across the line, maybe I should’ve hit it a little harder to cause less suspense, but I’m just very, very happy.
"We’re just going to continue with our shape and our tempo, moving forward to next game. Everyone believes in each other, and that's big. We’ve really come together and we’re going to continue to come together in these last few games. We’re excited for the postseason.”
BIRMINGHAM, AL (Oct. 10, 2021) – Legion FC kept the good times rolling with a decisive 3-1 win, the team’s fourth in a row, this time over Indy Eleven on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in downtown Birmingham.
Forward Neco Brett kicked things off with a sweet finish in the 8th minute, midfielder Eli Crognale hit another banger just four minutes after subbing on in the second half, and defender Jake Rufe scored his first professional goal with a long-range effort he let fly from inside his own half to seal the deal in second half stoppage time.
Brett’s goal was his 16th of the season, good for fifth-most in the USL Championship. Off a Legion throw-in, Ryan James slipped a pass through a defender’s legs and into the box for Brett, and the Jamaican pulled off a curling effort into the top right corner to get the home side on the board.
The visitors finished the half with three shots, and only one on target, from 43% possession, but the one shot from midfielder Nicky Law found the back of the net in the 42nd minute to send both teams into the half all knotted up at one. Indy defender Nick Moon got in behind down the right and found Law at the top of the six-yard box for a one-time finish.
Birmingham got off 13 shots in the second half, and 23 for the game, and yet again, Legion FC coaches’ second half substitutions came on and made immediate impacts. After subbing on in the 70th minute, Crognale stepped up to a bouncing ball outside the opposing area and volleyed it first time over the frozen Indy goalkeeper for his second rocket of a goal in recent weeks.
“I think all of [the substitutes] that came in did a really good job,” said Assistant Coach Khano Smith. Ben [Ofeimu] went in with specific instructions, Jaden [Servania] went in and it was his opportunity to prove himself and I think he did that tonight. Zach [Herivaux] gave his energy as well. Look, I’m not surprised, and I said this to you last time, the guy can shoot. I’m so, so happy for Jake Rufe. The guy deserves it. He shows up and works hard every day, he doesn’t complain, and he doesn’t moan. He’s a consummate professional and teammate. That moment couldn’t have happened to a better guy, he’s been through a lot, and he deserved that moment.”
Indy kept pressing forward looking for the equalizer, and after pulling their ‘keeper up for an attacking corner kick, Legion cleared its lines, midfielder Anderson Asiedu found Rufe, and the defender picked his head up, and hit a 60-yard ball perfectly down the middle of an empty net to secure the win and ran to his family in the stands at the final whistle.
“They were just so proud and so happy,” said Rufe. “I told them it was nice for that [Indy player] to slow up at the end and let it roll across the line, maybe I should’ve hit it a little harder to cause less suspense, but I’m just very, very happy.
“We’re just going to continue with our shape and our tempo, moving forward to next game. Everyone believes in each other, and that’s big. We’ve really come together and we’re going to continue to come together in these last few games. We’re excited for the postseason.”
Box Score:
|
1st Half |
2nd Half |
BHM |
1 |
2 |
IND |
1 |
0 |
Goals:
BHM – 8’ – #11 Neco Brett (assisted by #7 Ryan James)
IND – 42’ – #27 Nicky Law (assisted by #17 Nick Moon)
BHM – 74’ – #12 Eli Crognale
BHM – 90+4’ – #13 Jake Rufe (assisted by #6 Anderson Asiedu)
Starting Lineups:
BHM – 4-3-3 – #1 Matt VanOekel; #24 Jonny Dean, #21 Alex Crognale, #3 Phanuel Kavita ©, #5 Mikey Lopez; #27 Thomas Vancaeyezeele (61’ – #20 Zach Herivaux), #6 Anderson Asiedu, #8 Bruno Lapa (70’ – #12 Eli Crognale); #7 Ryan James (89’ – #13 Jake Rufe), #11 Neco Brett (89’ – #22 Ben Ofeimu), #10 Prosper Kasim (61’ – #17 Jaden Servania)
IND – 3-4-3 – #1 Jordan Farr; #33 Tobi Adewole, #5 Jared Timmer, #2 Patrick Seagrist; #17 Nick Moon, #28 Gershon Kofie (81’ – #85 Aboubacar Sissoko), #8 Kevin Partida (81’ – #6 Jeremiah Gutjahr), #7 Ayoze (67’ – #98 Peter Lee Vassell); #27 Nicky Law, #29 Manuel Arteaga, #45 Emmanuel Ledesma (67’ – #10 Gordon Wild)
Stats: Legion FC Match Center
The team is back at home this Wednesday night, October 13, at 7:00PM against Austin Bold FC for another addition of Everybody Wins on Wednesdays! Join us back here for one-dollar hotdogs, two-dollar beers, and a post-game firework show.
This match with Austin was originally rained out on June 19 and rescheduled, and fans who purchased tickets for the June contest will be honored on Wednesday. Fans can also get tickets HERE and can contact the Legion FC Ticket Office at 205-600-4635 or tickets@https://www.bhmlegion.com with any questions or requests.
Box Score:
|
1st Half |
2nd Half |
BHM |
1 |
2 |
IND |
1 |
0 |
Goals:
BHM – 8’ – #11 Neco Brett (assisted by #7 Ryan James)
IND – 42’ – #27 Nicky Law (assisted by #17 Nick Moon)
BHM – 74’ – #12 Eli Crognale
BHM – 90+4’ – #13 Jake Rufe (assisted by #6 Anderson Asiedu)
Starting Lineups:
BHM – 4-3-3 – #1 Matt VanOekel; #24 Jonny Dean, #21 Alex Crognale, #3 Phanuel Kavita ©, #5 Mikey Lopez; #27 Thomas Vancaeyezeele (61’ – #20 Zach Herivaux), #6 Anderson Asiedu, #8 Bruno Lapa (70’ – #12 Eli Crognale); #7 Ryan James (89’ – #13 Jake Rufe), #11 Neco Brett (89’ – #22 Ben Ofeimu), #10 Prosper Kasim (61’ – #17 Jaden Servania)
IND – 3-4-3 – #1 Jordan Farr; #33 Tobi Adewole, #5 Jared Timmer, #2 Patrick Seagrist; #17 Nick Moon, #28 Gershon Kofie (81’ – #85 Aboubacar Sissoko), #8 Kevin Partida (81’ – #6 Jeremiah Gutjahr), #7 Ayoze (67’ – #98 Peter Lee Vassell); #27 Nicky Law, #29 Manuel Arteaga, #45 Emmanuel Ledesma (67’ – #10 Gordon Wild)
Stats: Legion FC Match Center
The team is back at home this Wednesday night, October 13, at 7:00PM against Austin Bold FC for another addition of Everybody Wins on Wednesdays! Join us back here for one-dollar hotdogs, two-dollar beers, and a post-game firework show.
This match with Austin was originally rained out on June 19 and rescheduled, and fans who purchased tickets for the June contest will be honored on Wednesday. Fans can also get tickets HERE and can contact the Legion FC Ticket Office at 205-600-4635 or tickets@https://www.bhmlegion.com with any questions or requests.