
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – There is not much time to dwell on the past for Birmingham Legion FC. Just a couple of days removed from a tough 3-1 loss to Rhode Island FC at Protective Stadium, The Three Sparks finds itself shipping out west for a Saturday test at New Mexico United.
Despite the most recent defeat, Legion FC still holds favorable playoff position at sixth place in the USL Championship Eastern Conference standings. However, the margin for error is now even more razor thin with only two points separating fifth place and eighth place in the table. With 15 matches remaining in the 2024 season, that ratchets up the pressure for the club as it finishes up a three-match-in-eight-day stretch with the team that’s currently atop the Western Conference and on a 10-match home winning streak.
“We just have to forge ahead,” said Birmingham coach Tom Soehn following Wednesday’s defeat. “We have to put this one behind us, have a short memory and get back at it this weekend.”
MATCH INFO
- Birmingham Legion FC (8W-8L-3D) at New Mexico United (11W-4L-1D)
- USL Championship | Matchday 20
- Saturday, July 20 – 8:00 p.m. CT
- Isotopes Park – Albuquerque, NM
- Watch: WABM My68 (Birmingham)
- Stream: ESPN+
Slow starts have been a struggle for Legion FC much of the season, with the club having scored a first half goal in just three of its first 19 matches, ranking at the bottom of the USLC. The last two matches though have particularly been painful with its opponents finding early scoring success – Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC opening the scoring in the 11th minute, followed by Rhode Island FC taking it a step further with a goal 45 seconds into the match on Wednesday.
It’s a worrisome trend for what has, throughout the season, been a stout Legion FC defense and the team knows it can ill afford to have it happen again against New Mexico United.
“It’s been a theme so far this season that we’ve been a little slow (to start matches),” said defender AJ Paterson. “We’ve conceded early in multiple games and that just can’t happen. The quality just needs to be better all around.”
Birmingham has fallen behind in the first half in four of its last five matches.
But to the club’s credit, two of those ended in a win (against Colorado Springs on July 13 and at Detroit City FC on June 26). There was a spark of hope that was again going to be the case against Rhode Island with Prosper Kasim’s 50th equalizer, but the visitors quickly answered back by bagging two second half goals, something that Legion FC hasn’t been accustomed to allowing this season.
“We had the game in our hands,” said forward Preston Tabort Etaka. “That was supposed to be a boost for us and a chance to take over a game, but we did not and we got punished for that.
“We have to want it more.”
No team has wanted it more than New Mexico United when it is playing at Isotopes Park – a fortress it has not lost at since last September and hasn’t even allowed a goal dating back to a 2-1 win over San Antonio FC on May 25. It will look to keep that winning streak going on Saturday when it plays its first USL Championship opponent in 17 days.
It has been a weird schedule for New Mexico lately with the club finally seeing its run in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup end on July 10 on a 3-1 loss to MLS side Los Angeles FC. It now tries to pick up where it left off in USLC play where it is currently on a three-match winning streak, having outscored its opponents 6-2 in that stretch. That scoring has come in many different ways too, with two of those goals on penalties and two more from own goals.
On shorter rest, Legion FC is now tasked with somehow concocting a gameplan to slow that machine down. The club has already shown the ability to go into a seemingly unwinnable place and walk out with a victory. Prior to its win over Detroit City FC earlier this season, no team had found success at Keyworth Stadium in 2024.
But the quest for Birmingham’s sixth road win in 2024 poses to be the toughest yet.
“They’re flying right now,” Paterson said of New Mexico United. “We have to fine tune things we’re lacking right now and the things that we are doing well has to be even better because with a team that is in form like they are, you have to bring your best or else you’re going to get punished.
“We’ve had decent results on the road against good teams and this is another opportunity for us to go and do that.”
Follow Along
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