Match Preview

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Having 10 days off since the last time out, it remains to be seen if the extended break will work out in Birmingham Legion FC’s favor. On one hand, it has allowed the squad to mentally and physically reset following a tough and emotional loss at home to Indy Eleven. However, it has also meant that the players and coaching staff have had to stew on the defeat for well over a week.

Back at Protective Stadium and searching for a return to the win column, Legion FC welcomes in a San Antonio FC squad that mirrors itself in a lot of ways this season, which is sure to make for an interesting matchup on Wednesday night.

“We walk away disappointed (from the Indy match) because it’s a home game and you got to win every home game,” said Birmingham coach Tom Soehn. “We’ve had our opportunities to take care of business and you create those opportunities by putting pressure on teams and we need to start doing that better at home.”

MATCH INFO

• USL Championship | Matchday 14
• Birmingham Legion FC (5W-5L-3D) vs San Antonio FC (4W-6L-5D)
• Wednesday, June 19 – 7:00 p.m. CT
• Protective Stadium – Birmingham, Ala.
• Watch: WABM My68 (Birmingham)
• Stream: ESPN+

Reinforcements have arrived between the sticks for Birmingham following an injury to Matt Van Oekel that will keep the first-choice goalkeeper sidelined for a spell.

The club announced on Monday that it has acquired Jayden Hibbert on loan from Atlanta United and Owen Jack on a short-term contract. Hibbert has been a consistent starter for Atlanta United II this season, while Jack is no stranger to Legion FC having been with the club on trial and impressed in the preseason.

But while the influx of fresh new talent is welcomed, there will be a steep learning curve in having to fill the massive void left by Van Oekel.

“We’ll have to simplify things until they kind of understand the nuances of how we play,” Soehn explained. “Matt has such a vocal presence and you can see when he plays that he demands a lot around him. Now, you have new keepers coming to a club they’ve never played for and no one knows each other as well yet, so getting a lot of repetitions in training has been really important.”

One way to calm the nerves of a new keeper is to give him some goal equity on the opposite end of the pitch.

It’s something that has alluded Birmingham this season with the team only bagging 12 goals on a nine-percent conversion rate thus far in USL Championship play. A big part of those struggles has been from opponents sitting in a low-block, something that Legion FC expects to see from San Antonio.

“Movement off the ball is something that we’ve been talking a lot about (this week),” said midfielder Jake Rufe. “Coach has been working on that with us in creating more runs and more unpredictability. We’re going to create chances because we have the players to do so.”

The antidote to curing the low-block woes comes not only from scoring goals, but goals right out of the gate.

“We just have to score early,” Soehn said. “Doing that pulls teams out of their shell and comfort zone. But if we don’t score early, we should not panic and allow teams to counter on us. It’s something that teams do a lot on the road and it’s up to us to find a way to beat it.”

Like Legion FC, the pressure is on for San Antonio FC to find a positive result as well, with the club currently in the midst of a three-match losing skid. Also like its opponents, the goals have been hard to come by with the team having not scored more than a goal in each of its last six matches.

A familiar face is leading the SAFC frontline with former Legion FC forward Juan Agudelo notching a team-high three goals this season.

Players and Coaches Tour BCRI Ahead of Juneteenth Match
Final score aside, Wednesday’s match will be one to remember as Legion FC is excited to celebrate Juneteenth with all of Birmingham. As part of the festivities, the team will be debuting a special Juneteenth kit that is heavily inspired by the iconic 16th Street Baptist Church and The Birmingham Civil Rights Museum.

Last Friday, Legion FC toured the museum and came away with an even stronger connection to the community.

“It gives you a bit of extra pride,” Rufe said. “You’re playing for something more, you’re playing for Birmingham. It’s so important to learn that part of history and knowing what it means to this city, it gives you a little extra energy playing in front of a home crowd on our field.”

These type of community involvements is something that Soehn has been proud to see from the club since he became the coach at its inception in 2018.

“It’s not just about winning games, it’s also about how we activate ourselves as a community,” he explained. “If you look at the issues this city has had in embracing some of the past and rectifying it, (touring BCRI) is something that is very valuable. Walking through the museum, it really puts things into perspective.”

For fans interested in purchasing a Legion FC Juneteenth kit, a limited number will be available at Protective Stadium on Wednesday with proceeds going to BCRI. Gates open at 3:30 p.m. CT ahead of Legion WFC’s match against the Greenville Liberty at 4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased HERE. Kits go on sale at 5:30 p.m.

Additionally, match-worn kits will be available via auction at a later date.

Follow Along 
For Starting XI and in-game updates, follow @bhmlegion on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Following a two-match excursion out west, Birmingham Legion FC is back at home on Sunday and looking forward to building off of a fantastic showing its last time out, as it attempts to win consecutive matches in USL Championship play for the first time this season.

If that does indeed happen, it will certainly be earned considering the current form of its next opponent, Indy Eleven.

“There are no easy games in this league and anytime you face someone that’s ahead of you, you get up for the challenge,” said Legion FC coach Tom Soehn. “Our guys are competitive people and they know where our opponent is and what they have done, so what better opportunity than now for them to come in and we’ll try to send them home with no points.”

MATCH INFO

• USL Championship | Matchday 13
• Birmingham Legion FC (5W-4L-3D) vs Indy Eleven (7W-4L-2D)
• Sunday, June 9 – 6:00 p.m. CT
• Protective Stadium – Birmingham, Ala.
• Watch: WABM My68 (Birmingham)
• Stream: ESPN+

In a way, it’s fitting that this Sunday is Superhero Night at Protective Stadium, because it may take a superhuman showing from Legion FC to beat Indy, something that no team has done in nearly two months.

Dating back to an April 13 defeat to the Charleston Battery, the Eleven have since rattled off a 10-match unbeaten streak across both the USLC and the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. While that stat alone is impressive, Indy have taken it a step further with their current eight-match winning streak.

“Eight games in a row is no easy task,” Legion FC veteran Alex Crognale said. “But they’re not going to go the rest of the season without losing, so why not start this Sunday? We expect to perform well and get a result at home, that’s what we’re preparing for and the boys will be ready for that.”

Crognale and the Birmingham defense will have to be well aware of the Eleven’s deadly counter attack that has produced the second best scoring conversion rate in the league with 25 goals (led by seven this season from midfielder Jack Blake) on just 161 shots. The gameplan during this strong run has been to sit back and wait to pounce on an opponent’s mistake with Indy never holding more than 35-percent of the possession in any of its last three matches, despite outscoring its opponents 7-2 in that span.

“They defend hard and they attack quick,” Soehn explained. “They are looking to counter attack all the time, so if you’re sloppy then they can really hurt you because they have some legs up top that can get behind and some real quality.”

The good news for Birmingham is that it has already been battled-tested plenty throughout May with a slate of games that featured a back-to-back stretch against what were, at the time, the league’s Eastern and Western Conference’s leaders.

Last month was a true learning experience for Legion FC that was highlighted by some tactical and roster shuffling with the club coming out on the other side in much better shape. Crognale’s return from a minor injury, the addition of Derek Dodson via a loan and the emergence of AJ Paterson with consecutive USLC Team of the Week selections has seen the team defense step up a level with just two goals allowed in its last four matches.

“We’ve kind of found ourselves in the last few weeks,” said Crognale. “It’s been trial and error with bringing news guys into the group and when results don’t go our way, there have been a lot of questions, but the group has responded well and I think that’s why we are on a good run of form here.”

The even better news is that, with the defense handling its business in the back, the attack appears to now be matching that level as well, following a cathartic performance where Birmingham bagged three goals to end a 229-minute scoring drought in its win over El Paso Locomotive FC.

Soehn believes that experience in Texas may have unlocked some fluidity for his squad up front and is a sign of more good things to come.

“I hope it’s not a one-off,” said Soehn the recent uptick in offense. “One game doesn’t solve all your problems, it’s now got to be something that we do consistently in the attack, but it has definitely been a step in the right direction.”

Follow Along 
For Starting XI and in-game updates, follow @bhmlegion on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. For those still looking to attend Sunday’s match against Indy Eleven, tickets are available for purchase HERE. As part of the Superhero Night festivities, the fan who dresses up in the most extravagant costume will receive a seat upgrade.

EL PASO, Texas – The wild, wild west road swing for Birmingham Legion FC rolls on with a trip to the border to take on El Paso Locomotive FC this Saturday. On paper, the upcoming meeting should be a refreshing change of pace for The Three Sparks who go from a pair of consecutive matches against conference leaders to facing a team at the bottom of the table. However, as Locomotive FC proved last weekend in handing the Charleston Battery its first defeat of the season, there is no rest for the weary and no team can be taken lightly in the USL Championship.

“This league has proven time and time again that any team can win on the day,” said Legion FC coach Tom Soehn. “El Paso showed us that its last time out, so we can’t afford to go into this game and expect a win just because of their record. We have to continue to build off the things we’ve been doing to get a good result.”

MATCH INFO

• USL Championship | Matchday 12
• Birmingham Legion FC (4W-4L-3D) at El Paso Locomotive FC (2W-8L-2D)
• Saturday, June 1 – 8:00 p.m. CT
• Southwest University Park – El Paso, Texas
• Watch: WABM My68 (Birmingham)
• Stream: ESPN+

El Paso has been keeping the USLC news cycle busy in recent weeks, beginning with the departure of Head Coach and Technical Director Brian Clarhaut on May 17, the subsequent hiring of Wilmer Cabrera and it all culminating with a signature victory over The Battery in the new coach’s debut. But even before the staff change, The Locos were beginning to show signs of life, with five goals and both of its wins this season in the last three matches after scoring just six total goals in its first nine of the campaign.

Forward Amando Moreno has been the main goal threat for El Paso, with the El Salvador international bagging five of the club’s 11 goals this season, highlighted by a brace to secure the victory against 10-man Charleston.

“We have to show up and make sure that we are ready to go from the first whistle,” said Enzo Martinez who is tied with Stefano Pinho for a team-high four goals across all competitions this season.

“We have the gameplan, so we know what they are going to try to do, but now it’s about us executing that gameplan and being prepared to handle what they show us.”

Meanwhile, Birmingham has its sights set on notching its first win in three matches and knows that it has to find the back of the net for that to be achieved. In its draw at Sacramento Republic FC and its loss to Charleston, Legion FC had more total shots and a higher expected goals metric in both matches, but was unable to convert those chances into goals.

The mood around club is that it will take just one converted chance to unleash an avalanche of scoring and the hope is that it will come this weekend against an El Paso defense that has allowed 17 total goals at a 1.4 per match average this season.

“It’s a process,” said Tyler Pasher, “Anyone that’s played in this game long enough knows that as soon as you score, (the goals) just start rolling. It just takes some time, but we’re getting there. It’s fine margins because it could have easily been a 3-0 game (at Sacramento). At some point the balls will start hitting the back of the net and we’ll start putting up even more points on the board, so it will come with time.”

Dodson ‘Flawless’ in Debut
Derek Dodson didn’t have much time to settle in with his new club before getting thrown into the thick of things. Joining Legion FC on a season-long loan from MLS side Minnesota United just a few days prior, the defender was immediately thrust into the starting eleven against Sacramento and put in a shift that was instrumental in keeping a clean sheet.

“He was flawless,” Soehn said of Dodson, who had been a stalwart on the backline at Charleston last season before parlaying that into a move to Minnesota.

“I really respect the fact that he came in, only had a couple of days with the team and understood tactically what was expected of him. He’s an intelligent player that fit right in.”

Playing the full 90 minutes, Dodson provided a sense of calm both in defense and in possession on the backline with a team-high three clearances, to go along with two interceptions, while also finding pockets to push forward down the right side and fire in four crosses. Now with a match under his belt, Soehn hopes to see even more good things as the chemistry continues to build.

“When you get a guy of his quality in the locker room, that’s real important,” explained Soehn. “He fits in with this squad quite well and he also brings it on the field. It’s been a seamless transition so far.”

Follow Along 
For Starting XI and in-game updates, follow @bhmlegion on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The ebbs and flows of the USL Championship schedule continues to keep Birmingham Legion FC on its toes this season. Following a four-match-in-12-days stretch, a much-needed respite of 10 days off is officially over for The Three Sparks as it heads to The Golden State for a weekend tilt with Western Conference-leading Sacramento Republic FC.

“We had a tough stretch of games and the emotional cost of that is a lot so giving the guys some time to recharge was important,” said Legion FC coach Tom Soehn. “This week in training we’ve come out with a little bite to us.”

MATCH INFO

• USL Championship | Matchday 11
• Birmingham Legion FC (4W-4L-2D) at Sacramento Republic FC (5W-0L-5D)
• Saturday, May 25 – 9:00 p.m. CT
• Heart Health Park – Sacramento, CA
• Watch: WABM My68 (Birmingham)
• Stream: ESPN+

There are no concerns about Legion FC not being battle-tested at this point of the campaign, having already faced a team that was at the top of its respective conference and had yet to be defeated. But, unlike in its last match against the Charleston Battery, Birmingham hopes to come out on top this time. To do that, the squad will have to take full advantage of scoring opportunities that will likely be few and far between against a SRFC defense that has allowed just eight goals this season and has posted four clean sheets in the USLC this season.

Breaking down an organized defense has been a struggle for Legion FC season, but the thought around the camp is that it is on the precipice of unlocking things in a big way. Despite the loss to Charleston, there were some positives to take away from an offensive standpoint as the team led the match in total shots, shots inside the box, touches in the box and final third entries.

The focus going forward now is to not be as wasteful once the attack enters into dangerous positions, and Kobe Hernandez-Foster – who leads Birmingham with 19 total chances created this season – believes that an onslaught of goals is on the horizon as the team chemistry continues to grow.

“We’re definitely motivated,” said Hernandez-Foster, who has played every minute of Legion FC’s 10 USLC matches this season. “Playing against Charleston was a toe-to-toe game that could’ve gone either way and helped our confidence. We feel like we’re right there and I think everyone in the group feels it, so now it’s about just going in and focusing on getting three points every week.”

Meanwhile, the Sacramento attack has taken full advantage of its chances in front of goal with eight more goals than Legion FC on the season (16-9) despite taking 10 fewer shots (132-142). In fact, SRFC’s 0.12 goal-per-shot average rates near the top among USL Championship clubs. Trevor Amann leads the team with six goals on the season, which is tied for fifth in the league, while Kieran Phillips has added some extra bite up top since joining the club in April. The Huddersfield Town-loanee has bagged five goals in as many appearances, including a brace on Tuesday in Sacramento’s 4-3 upset over the San Jose Earthquakes to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

“They’re dynamic and they’re organized,” Soehn said of his upcoming opponent. “They don’t give up a lot of goals and they have some guys that can be really dangerous on the counters and yet they can also still build it up in possession. They are a pretty versatile group but if we can stay organized we should be able to sustain a lot of that.”

Legion FC hope to get their own shot in the arm on the loan market with Derek Dodson joining the club this week from Minnesota United FC. The versatile defender comes in with a wealth of USLC experience and looks to help continue a recent run of form for the Birmingham backline that has allowed just one goal over the last 180 minutes.

“This will definitely be a hard matchup, but I think we have the capabilities of coming out with a positive result,” said Hernandez-Foster. “We just need to go in there, play our game and fight it out.”

Follow Along 
For Starting XI and in-game updates, follow @bhmlegion on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Back in The Magic City after an extended stay in Tampa Bay last week, Birmingham Legion FC caps off a grueling stretch of four matches in 12 days with what is sure to be its toughest test to date in the 2024 campaign, as the USL Championship-leading Charleston Battery and its undefeated record stroll into Protective Stadium for an Eastern Conference showdown Wednesday evening.

“Obviously, they are doing something right,” Legion FC coach Tom Soehn said of his team’s upcoming opponent. “They are winning a lot of games and looking dominant while doing it. We have our work cut out for us this week.”

MATCH INFO

• USL Championship | Matchday 10
• Birmingham Legion FC (4W-3L-2D) vs Charleston Battery (7W-0L-3D)
• Wednesday, May 15 – 7:00 p.m. CT
• Protective Stadium – Birmingham, AL
• Watch: WABM My68 (Birmingham)
• Stream: CBS Sports Golazo Network

Through 10 matches this season, the Battery have proven thus far to be the class of the USLC.

Powered by forward Nicholas Markanich and his league-leading 12 goals, Charleston has been incredibly difficult to keep off the scoresheet with 25 team goals this season. Markanich has also accounted for a team-best three assists, but much of the creativity when the Battery are on the ball comes off the feet of Aaron Molloy. The Irish midfielder not only leads USLC with 71.7 completed passes per 90 minutes at an 86.8-percent accuracy clip, but is also second in the league with 27 total chances created.

Combine that dynamic attack with a sturdy defense that has posted a clean sheet in half of its matches this season, it’s not hard to figure out how Charleston has outscored its opponents 21-7 en route to its current five-match winning streak.

“They score a lot and don’t give up a lot,” said Soehn. “That’s always a good recipe for success, so we have to be at our very best if we want to come away with a good result.”

Birmingham enters Wednesday’s match looking to put the “protect” in Protective Stadium as it attempts to defend homefield and hand the Battery its first loss of the season. And if there is a perceived weakness for Charleston, it could be that they aren’t as dominant in road matches with all three of its draws in 2024 occurring away from home. On top of that, Legion FC appear to be finding its scoring touch as of late, having scored seven goals in its last three matches after averaging a little over one goal per game in its first eight.

It should come as no surprise that Enzo Martinez is playing an important part in the scoring uptick with a goal in each of those last three matches. He, Kobe Hernandez-Foster and Tyler Pasher finally seemed to have gotten the engine running in the midfield with those three combining for 50 key passes played. Meanwhile, the Three Sparks defense, with veteran centerback Alex Crognale back in the mix, achieved some much needed momentum with its first clean sheet since a 1-0 victory at Miami FC back on April 20.

“When we have faced Charleston in the past, it has always been a good and competitive match,” Soehn said. “I expect this one to be no different.”

Last Time Out 
Birmingham showed some moxie, answering an emotionally charged Open Cup loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies by turning around just three days later against the same squad on the same field and putting on a defensive masterclass in dealing with the high press to get revenge with a 1-0 win. The lone goal, a 68th minute strike from Martinez on an assist from Jake Rufe was Legion FC’s first of two shots on target.

Meanwhile, the Battery last stepped on the pitch on May 8 and saw its Open Cup account extend to the Round of 16 following a 3-2 extra-time victory over USL1 side South Georgia Tormenta FC. In its last USLC match back on May 4, a 12th minute goal from Markanich was all Charleston needed in a 1-0 home win over Hartford Athletic.

Follow Along 
For Starting XI and in-game updates, follow @bhmlegion on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. 

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Just four days removed from a roller coaster affair in the Round of 32 of the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Birmingham Legion FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies are set for an encore at Al Lang Stadium, as the two teams return to USL Championship play this Saturday evening. And for The Three Sparks, they face for a second straight match against their Eastern Conference rivals with a bit of revenge on their minds, after their comeback-for-the-ages was stymied by Tampa Bay in extra time last Wednesday.

“We got to sit back and watch the film and figure out all we did wrong,” Legion FC coach Tom Soehn said following his club’s 6-4 Open Cup defeat. “We came back from four goals down but some of the goals that we let in before and after that, we just can’t let happen and we have to be better in those areas.”

MATCH INFO

• USL Championship | Matchday 9
• Birmingham Legion FC at Tampa Bay Rowdies
• Saturday, May 11 – 6:30 p.m. CT
• Al Lang Stadium – St. Petersburg, FL
• Watch: WABM My68 (Birmingham)
• Stream: ESPN+

While the wounds from Wednesday’s loss are still fresh, Birmingham (3W-3L-3D USL Championship) hopes that it can carry over the momentum from an ardent second half push that saw four unanswered goals in a span of 12 minutes from Enzo Martinez, Kobe Hernandez-Foster and a Tyler Pasher brace to force extra time.

That lethal quality in front of goal is something that likely will be needed across the full 90 minutes on Saturday to combat a Rowdies (3W-1L-4D) attacking front that is third in USL Championship in scoring with 17 goals, with forwards Cal Jennings and Manuel Arteaga each having found the back of the net six times across eight league matches. The Legion FC defense got a taste of that on Saturday with Jennings notching a hat trick, while Arteaga came off the bench and provided the two extra time goals that ultimately was the difference in the match.

It will be a tough task, however Legion FC have shown in the past that it can handle the Florida humidity and the Tampa Bay supporters. In fact, prior to Wednesday’s loss, Birmingham were in the midst of a three-match unbeaten streak at Al Lang Stadium and have historically had success there with a 3W-3L-1D record across all competitions since entering USL Championship in 2019.

Last Time Out
Prior to its U.S. Open Cup tilt with Tampa Bay, Legion FC came back from two goals down for a 2-2 draw at home against FC Tulsa. Martinez ignited the spark with a 71st minute goal off an assist from Diba Nwegbo. Stefano Pinho then secured the point with a stoppage time goal off of inch-perfect corner service from Pasher. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay had its seven-match unbeaten streak in USL Championship play end last Saturday with a 4-1 home loss to Memphis 901 FC.

Follow Along
For Starting XI and in-game updates, follow @bhmlegion on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. 

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – For a second straight year, Birmingham Legion FC finds itself in the Round of 32 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and will face quite a familiar face at 6:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday night as it travels to Florida to face the Tampa Bay Rowdies. However, for all the clashes the two USL Championship rivals have had in past regular seasons and playoffs, this latest meeting will be the first time that the two sides face off in the country’s oldest soccer tournament.

“We have plenty of video on them and they have plenty of video on us, so there won’t be many surprises,” said Legion FC coach Tom Soehn. “It’s always a good match between the two. They have a lot of quality, they defend the ball really well and are always dangerous on set pieces so we have our work cut out for us.”

MATCH INFO

• 2024 U.S. Open Cup | Round of 32
• Birmingham Legion FC at Tampa Bay Rowdies
• Wednesday, May 8 – 6:30 p.m. CT Kick-off
• Al Lang Stadium – St. Petersburg, FL
• Stream on USLsoccer.com and USsoccer.com

Birmingham narrowly has the advantage in the overall series history with a 4-3-3 record in 10 meetings with the Rowdies. That fourth victory was, of course, a memorable one as Legion FC went on the road in the opening round of the 2023 USL Championship Playoffs and eliminated Tampa Bay, 3-0, behind goals from Preston Tabort Etaka, Diba Nwegbo and Prosper Kasim. Returning to Al Lang Stadium for the first time since that signature victory, Birmingham hopes to recapture that playoff magic once again.

“Whenever we play them, it’s also tough,” said Kasim. “They always give us their best, but we also always give them our best, so I expect it to be yet another good match when we face them.”

Thanks to some random scheduling fate, Kasim and his Legion FC will be spending quite some time in the Tampa Bay this week with another match against the Rowdies on Saturday in a return to USL Championship action. While it will feel a little different to spend an extended period of time away from home, it’s these type of road trips that the players point to as special team bonding moments than can help strengthen the chemistry throughout the squad, especially in the early part of the season.

“These type of outings gives you a lot of time to talk about what happened in the last game, what we can change going forward and just enjoying everyone’s company,” said Legion FC midfielder Enzo Martinez. “It’s very special because when you’re at home, everyone has their lives and everyone has their own thing, but when you have an away trip, everyone is together 24/7 and that can be a lot of fun.”

Last Time Out 
Legion FC hits the road after two-game homestand that culminated last Saturday with a thrilling second half comeback to pull out a 2-2 draw against FC Tulsa. Martinez opened Birmingham’s account in the 71st minute with a goal off an assist from Nwegbo. Stefano Pinho then saved the day in stoppage time with a header into the back of the net via a Tyler Pasher corner. Pinho, in particular, is happy to see a return to Open Cup action after the forward accounted for all four goals in a 4-2 win in extra time over Chattanooga Red Wolves SC in the Third Round on April 17.

Meanwhile, the Rowdies saw their seven-match unbeaten streak come to an end over the weekend with a 4-1 home loss to Memphis 901 FC. It was a particular shocking performance for the Tampa Bay defense that entered the match having already posted a pair of clean sheets and had not allowed more than two goals in any of its previous matches. Wednesday marks the Rowdies first match of 2024 U.S. Open Cup after securing a bye to the Round of 32 following a top seven finish in the USL Championship standings last season.

Follow Along 
For Starting XI and in-game updates, follow @bhmlegion on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. 

Match Info: 

• USL Championship Match 8
• Birmingham Legion FC vs. FC Tulsa
• Saturday, May 4 – 6:30 PM Kickoff
• Gates open at 5:30 PM
• Protective Stadium – Birmingham, AL 
• My68 & ESPN+

Back at Home

Birmingham Legion FC will host FC Tulsa this Saturday, May 4th at Protective Stadium at 6:30 PM for our 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟰𝘁𝗵 𝗯𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂 night presented by Mercedes Benz of Birmingham.

Our match against Tulsa calls for a costume contest. Be sure to wear your best intergalactic costume for a chance to win a Legion FC VIP Experience.

For fans looking for a tailgate head over to Barker Park 2215 13th Ave N with Spanish supporter group Puente 12 and the Magic City Brigade.  

Don’t have your tickets? There’s still time to purchase here: bit.ly/5-4-BHMvTUL

Follow Along 

Saturday’s match will be streamed locally on My68 and ESPN+. For Starting XI and in-game updates, follow @bhmlegion on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. 

Last Time Out 

On the last time out Legion FC fell to rival Memphis 901 FC 3-0 at home in another edition of the Southern Harm Derby. Legion FC failed to net a goal in the back of the net. The Alabama side enters the match ranking 5th in the Eastern Conference with 3 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw. The Three Sparks will look to turn around its form and collect all three points in front of its home crowd.

Scouting FC Tulsa

FC Tulsa enters this week’s match ranking 8th in the Western Conference with 2 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses. The Oklahoma side is coming off a 1-0 road win against El Paso Locomotive FC. The lone goal came from midfielder Boubacar Diallo in the 53rd minute to give Tulsa the lead. Goalkeeper Michael Creek earned his first clean sheet of the season.  

Tickets

2024 Season Tickets are available now at bhmlegion.com/2024tix, and fans can reach out to tickets@bhmlegion.com or 205-791-7145 with any questions.

Match Info: 

• USL Championship Match 7 
• Birmingham Legion FC vs. Memphis 901 FC
• Saturday, April 27 – 6:30PM Kickoff
• Gates open at 5:30pm
• Protective Stadium – Birmingham, AL 
• My68 & ESPN+

Back at home in Black 

Birmingham Legion FC will host Memphis 901 FC this Saturday, April 27th at Protective Stadium at 6:30PM for another edition of the Southern Harm Derby. 

Our rivalry match against Memphis 901 FC calls for a blackout at Protective Stadium! Help us blackout Protective by wearing your black Legion FC merch to the match! 

The Memphis game is presented by Publix with an afternoon Youth Soccer Clinic at 4:00PM!  The clinic is free with paid tickets to the match. You must fill out this waiver form to participate in the clinic. All parents and participants need tickets to enter.

Legion unveiled the “Vulcan Kit” on Thursday at Vulcan Park and Museum at the top of Red Mountain. Legion FC players will wear the kit for the first time this Saturday at Protective Stadium. 

For fans looking for a tailgate head over to Barker Park 2215 13th Ave N with Spanish supporter group Puente 12 and the Magic City Brigade.  

Don’t have your tickets? There’s still time to purchase here: bit.ly/3QfBQBE

Follow Along 

Saturday’s match will be streamed locally on My68 and ESPN+. For Starting XI and in-game updates, follow @bhmlegion on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. 

Last Time Out 

Legion FC is riding high after an Open Cup 4-2 win against USL League One side, Chattanooga Red Wolves last Wednesday. This victory advanced the Alabama side to the Round of 32 of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Brazilian forward, Stefano Pinho put on a Man of the Match performance notching two goals in regular time and two goals in extra time. 

In USL Championship play, the Three Sparks defeated Miami FC 1-0 on the road. Legion FC’s sole goal came in the 62nd minute with a beautiful pass from Kobe Hernandez-Foster to Prosper Kasim for Stefano Pinho to slot the ball into the net. This would be Pinho’s fourth goal of the week to give Legion the win against the Florida side. This would be a massive team win for the Legion after getting swept by Miami in the 2023 season. The Black and Gold look to continue its momentum against Southern rival Memphis 901 FC. The Three Sparks currently sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. 

Midfielder Kobe Hernandez-Foster earned an honorable mention for the USL Championship’s Team of the Week. The 21-year-old was vital in Legion’s victory, notching the hockey assist on Stefano Pinho’s goal and completing 70 of 73 passes overall with a passing accuracy of 95.9%. The Los Angeles native ended the night with five chances created and won four of seven duels.

Scouting Memphis 901 FC

Just like Legion FC, Memphis played three matches in seven days last week. The Tennessee side came out with a 2-0 Open Cup win last Wednesday against Miami United. However, in league play, Memphis seems to be struggling after a five-game losing streak. Memphis is looking to improve its form after a 2-1 defeat to Monterey Bay FC. 

The clubs will meet for the 15th time in club history.  In the 15 meetings between the two teams, Legion has won seven matches; Memphis has won three matches; and five matches have ended in a draw (7-3-5).  This will be the only time the clubs face each other in league play after Memphis moved to the Western Conference. 

Notes

Tickets

2024 Season Tickets are available now at bhmlegion.com/2024tix, and fans can reach out to tickets@bhmlegion.com or 205-791-7145 with any questions.