Birmingham lose for the first time this season
Quick Summary:
Hartford Athletic defeated Birmingham Legion FC at Trinity Health Stadium in the second match of the 2024 USL Championship regular season. Legion FC failed to find the equalizer and trailed behind in the first half. Hartford held on to its one goal lead until the end of the game.
Legion FC came into Saturday’s match in Connecticut knowing that Hartford’s revamped team had a few new threats: Michee Ngalina, Deshane Beckford, and Marcus Epps. In the first half of play, Hartford came out firing shots with their first big chance coming in the third minute when Matt VanOekel blocked Hartford’s Deshane Beckford’s shot, and Alex Crognale cleared his rebound shot. The game’s sole goal, however, came in the 24th minute, when Hartford’s Michee Ngalina’s shot hit the back of the net in the 23rd minute. Anderson Asiedu chipped the ball to Ngalina who put it on goal, VanOekel was able to get a touch on it but could not punch it out.
Hartford had a series of corners that led to danger but were cleared away. The Three Sparks only had two shots in the first half but none of those being clear chances.
“We talked at halftime and addressed it, and I thought the team came out better, but just can’t afford to come out as we did,” said Coach Tom Soehn.
Both teams entered the second half with energy but it was Legion FC that showed more intensity. The Three Sparks were able to press up higher and create a few more chances moving forward. Jake Rufe subbed in for Mujeeb Murana making a shift and allowing Diba Nwegbo to press up high. The first big chance of the second half happened in the 47th minute, Pasher crossed the ball to Nwegbo but his shot went wide.
Hartford had another flash of danger in the 52nd minute when Marcus Epps hit a shot from inside the box but was blocked by VanOekel, Mamadou Dieng’s header was also saved by VanOekel.
In the 74th minute, Enzo Martinez and Tyler Pasher found the best chance of the game when Martinez found a breakaway from a counterattack and crossed a pass to Pasher in the box. Pasher’s shot was deflected by Paul Walters.
Coach Soehn made another change in the second half, Miguel Perez for Prosper Kasim. Perez had a great opportunity but his shot went a little bit over the net in the 68th minute. 10 minutes later Etaka took a strike but hit the crossbar.
The game at this point was much more open and there was a lot of back and forth. Neither side was able to find a breakthrough.
Match Details
| Box Score | First Half | Second Half |
| HFD | 1 | 0 |
| BHM | 0 | 0 |
Goals
Hartford: 23′ – Ngalina
Lineup
Birmingham: VanOekel, Paterson, Crognale, Kavita, Murana (Rufe, 45′, Pinho, 87′); Nwegbo, Martínez, Hernández-Foster; Etaka, Kasim, (Perez, 58′), Pasher
Hartford: Walters, Hodge, Vancaeyezeele, Farrell, Akpunonu; Chapman, Asiedu; Ngalina, Epps (Makangila, 65′); Beckford (Mushagalusa, 70′); Dieng (Samadia, 86′)
Discipline
60’ – Asiedu (Yellow)
69′ – Hartford Bench (Yellow)
What’s next:
The Legion go back on the road for their third away game of the season on March 30 against Louisville City FC.
To keep up to date on all things Legion FC, Legion encourages its fans to follow @bhmlegion on social media and keep an eye on bhmlegion.com and the Legion FC app.
