Match Preview

MATCH INFO:
Birmingham Legion FC vs Detroit City FC
Sunday, August 27
4:00 pm CT Kickoff
Protective Stadium – Birmingham, AL
Watch – My68 & ESPN+
Get Tickets HERE!

Legion FC returns to Protective Stadium on Sunday, August 27 to face Detroit City FC of the USL Eastern Conference. Kickoff is at 4 pm, and gates open at 3 pm. Now on a two-game win streak and three games unbeaten, Birmingham aims to continue its upward momentum as it pushes for a home playoff spot before the season’s end.

Only nine games remain in the USL Championship regular season, and now the Black & Gold face an opponent it has never beaten. In the three games Detroit and Birmingham have played against each other, Detroit has won all three. There could not be a better time to overcome the Michigan side.

Legion FC’s Form

In its last two outings, Legion FC has scored five goals. Its attack, which is one of the best in the league in terms of player talent, is starting to materialize on the pitch. On Wednesday against FC Tulsa, Legionnaire Neco Brett scored a hat-trick in Legion’s 3-1 victory. The Jamaican has confidence that Birmingham can take all three points.

“I think we should definitely stick to our game plan,” said Brett on tomorrow’s match against Detroit. “[It] has been working — especially the last two games we got five goals. I think we just need to continue to focus on ourselves and the goals will come.”

Brett’s hat-trick was his career second and first in a Legion shirt. The veteran striker, who is currently the top scorer in Legion history, is tied for the most goals scored on the team this season alongside Enzo Martinez (nine).

Birmingham’s defense has also improved in its last few matches. Legion has only conceded two goals in its last three matches. Additionally, Legion FC has added Preston Etaka to its roster. Although he made his debut for the club in its last match against Tulsa, the newcomer may make his home debut on Sunday.

“We’re trying to make the final top four so we can get a home playoff game,” said Brett. “Every game game right now is very important so we’re just trying to get three points. So more fans, it’s better for us. You know, they will be like the 12th man on the field to help us with the energy and get these three points.”

Opponent Info

Detroit City FC: 10W – 7L – 7D / 26 Goals Scored – 26 Goals Allowed / 37 Points / 5th in USLC Eastern Conference

H2H: DET – 3W – 0D – 0L

Detroit sit in tenth place in the USL Championship Eastern Conference. And although the Michigan side has scored the least amount of goals in the USL Championship (18), its defense is one of the best in the League. Detroit have only conceded 24 goals, which is tied for the third least amount of goals conceded.

Consequently of its very strong defense, Legion’s attack will have to work hard to break through the Motor City’s back line. If Detroit play like they are characteristic of, fans can expect Detroit to hold onto the ball a lot in its own half. With this in mind, it will be interesting to see how its strategy pairs against Birmingham’s press off the ball.

The top three scorers for Detroit, Ben Morris, Skage Lehland and Dario Suárez, are tied with three goals to their names. Moreover, its goalkeeper Nathan Steinwascher has an impressive eight clean sheets to his name this season.

FiveThirtyEight Prediction:

Birmingham: 53%
Detroit: 20%
Draw: 27%

To keep up to date on all things Legion FC, fans are encouraged to follow @bhmlegion on social media and keep an eye on bhmlegion.com and the Legion FC app. Download the Legion FC app today on Apple or Android, and sync our 2023 schedule to your calendar HERE.

MATCH INFO:
Birmingham Legion FC vs FC Tulsa
Wednesday, August 23
7:00 pm CT Kickoff
ONEOK Field – Tulsa, Oklahoma
Watch – My68 & ESPN+

Birmingham Legion FC travels to Oklahoma on Wednesday, August 23 to take on FC Tulsa.

Short on rest after beating Louisville FC at home on Saturday, the Black & Gold make a quick turnaround to play another important game in regard to the USL Championship Eastern Conference standings. FC Tulsa sits in 8th place with 29 points, and Legion are just ahead of them in 7th place with 33 points. Both teams know how important a game like this is. With only ten matches left in the regular season, the Black & Gold must pick up as many points as it can.

Legion FC’s Form

Birmingham was in a rut of form for the first half of August, losing two and drawing one of its first three games. During its victory over Louisville FC, however, the Alabama side looked like an entirely different team. Its defense was organized, and the team had a fluidity about them that displayed their chemistry.

“I think today was one of the first times I really saw us truly fight as a family and a team,” said goalkeeper Matt VanOekel after Legion’s 2-0 shutout over LouCity. “So, I look forward to continuing that against the Tulsa team.”

Enzo Martinez and Neco Brett both netted goals in Birmingham’s 2-0 victory, but youngster Diba Nwegbo was all the talk. The 21-year-old was directly involved in both goals and was felt all across the pitch, earning himself the honor of being named Man of the Match. Martinez and Nwegbo both made the USL Championship’s Team of the Week thanks to their performances.

Brett’s goal was his 33rd in a Birmingham shirt and his 75th USL Championship regular season goal. For Martinez, who leads the Black & Gold in goals scored, it was his ninth of the season.

Birmingham will be missing its crucial center back Alex Crognale tomorrow due to yellow card accumulation. This is only the second regular season game Crognale has missed this season. Legion will have to make adjustments to fill in any holes left because of his suspension.

Opponent Info

FC Tulsa: 7W – 10L – 8D / 29 Goals Scored – 40 Goals Allowed / 29 Points / 8th in USLC Eastern Conference

H2H: TUL – 4W – 1D – 2L

In its last match, the Roughnecks lost 2-1 against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The hosts come into the match on a four-game winless streak. Philip Goodrum (eight) and Marcus Epps (6) lead Tulsa in scoring. The pair will look to threaten Legion’s defense which will be missing its 6′ 5″ center back Crognale.

In head-to-head match-ups, the Roughnecks have the edge on Birmingham. Tulsa has won four of the seven matches the two sides have played against one another, while Birmingham has won two and the pair have drawn against each other once.

The Roughnecks and the Legionnaires have had their defensive problems throughout the 2023 season. Both sides have conceded the fourth most USL Championship goals (40) and are tied on the number of clean sheets they have earned (five). As teams looking to improve their defensive structure, it will be interesting to see how they pair up.

FiveThirtyEight Prediction:

Birmingham: 36%
Tulsa: 38%
Draw: 26%

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. Download the Legion FC app today on Apple or Android, and sync our 2023 schedule to your calendar HERE.

MATCH INFO:
Birmingham Legion FC vs Louisville City FC
Saturday, August 19
4:30 pm CT Kickoff
Protective Stadium – Birmingham, AL
Watch – My68 & ESPN+
Get Tickets HERE!

Legion FC returns to Protective Stadium on Saturday, August 19 to take on its Southeastern rival Louisville FC. With Birmingham in seventh place on 30 points and Louisville in fifth with 37, this game is crucial for both sides if they are to improve their spots on the USL Championship Eastern Conference table. Grab a ticket to the rivalry match here.

The last time Louisville and Birmingham met was just four weeks ago, when the Legionnaires bested the Boys in Purple on Kentucky soil. Juan Agudelo and Alex Crognale both scored off of corners served in by the 17-year-old Matthew Corcoran to make the difference in the 2-1 victory.

This time around, the Black & Gold will be looking to garner three points again as it pushes for a higher playoff position.

“Every match is a final” is a common phrase heard in Coach Soehn’s locker room. The squad, led in goals by Enzo Martinez (eight), Neco Brett (five), Pasher (four), Agudelo (four), and Kasim (five assists) are a talented offensive roster that can threaten any USL Championship team.

Birmingham’s biggest focus must be its defense and not leaking goals. With 40 goals conceded Legion FC clock in at the fourth most goals conceded in the League. Goalkeepers Matt VanOekel, Trevor Spangenberg, and center backs Phanuel Kavita and Alex Crognale aim to improve their defensive output and add to Legion’s clean sheet tally (four).

Watch below as Legionnaires Enzo Martinez and Captain Phanuel Kavita talk about what to expect against Louisville:

"Every game for us right now is like a final. We have to catch up and start getting some points." -Captain @phanuel313#HammerDown

— Birmingham Legion FC (@bhmlegion) August 17, 2023

Opponent Info

Louisville City FC: 10W – 7L – 7D / 26 Goals Scored – 26 Goals Allowed / 37 Points / 5th in USLC Eastern Conference

H2H: LOU – 5W – 2D – 3L

Louisville leads Birmingham in head-to-head matchups five wins to three, with two of the previous meetings ending in a draw. City’s last two matches both ended in draws at home, 1-1 against Charleston and 2-2 against Rio Grande Valley. The Boys in Purple will be in Birmingham looking for three points.

LouCity’s top goalscorers are Wilson Harris and Cameron Lancaster (five goals), and behind them are Dylan Mares and Sean Totsch (four goals). Rather than relying on one or two guys that are clinical in front of the goal, Louisville plays a more open style where many different members of the team step up to the scoresheet. Expect a total-football attack that has the potential to be very lethal.

FiveThirtyEight Prediction:

Birmingham: 32%
Louisville: 41%
Draw: 27%

To keep up to date on all things Legion FC, fans are encouraged to follow @bhmlegion on social media and keep an eye on bhmlegion.com and the Legion FC app. Download the Legion FC app today on Apple or Android, and sync our 2023 schedule to your calendar HERE.

MATCH INFO:
Birmingham Legion FC vs Sacramento Republic FC
Saturday, August 12
6:30 pm CT Kickoff
Protective Stadium – Birmingham, AL
Watch – My68 & ESPN+
Get Tickets HERE!

Birmingham Legion FC return home to Protective Stadium on Saturday, August 12 for Camp Legion! After a series of away matches that did not go its way, the Legionnaires will look to bounce back and make a statement against Sacramento Republic. Come enjoy a last summer hurrah with the Legion FC as it takes on one of the best teams in the USL Championship.

Birmingham’s last three matches have not been ideal — a loss at home and two losses on the road — so an upset against Sacramento could be a huge difference maker in the Legion’s end-of-season form.

In its last fixture on Wednesday, August 9, Birmingham lost to Indy Eleven 4-0 after conceding once in the first half and three in the second. It will have to have a more organized defense, and more firepower from its final third, to garner a result against a very good Sacramento side.

The last time, and first time, Legion and Republic FC met was in July of 2022, where Birmingham defeated Sacramento on its home turf thanks to a goal in the 2nd minute by Juan Agudelo. Agudelo and Legion’s current front four of Enzo Martinez (eight goals in 2023), Neco Brett (five goals), and Prosper Kasim (five assists) will look to break down Sacramento’s organized defense.

Midfielder Mikey Lopez has been training with the team again and appeared on the bench against Indy Eleven but did not play. Legion fans may get a chance to see the Legion veteran make an appearance during tomorrow’s game. For those unfamiliar, Lopez, 30 years old, has been at the club since its inaugural 2019 season and is a versatile player that can defend and make aggressive challenges in the midfield as well as generate attacking play.

Opponent Info

Sacramento Republic FC: 12W – 3L – 8D / 38 Goals Scored – 16 Goals Allowed / 44 Points / 1st in USLC Western Conference

H2H: BHM – 1W – 0D – 0L

Sacramento Republic top the USL Championship Western Conference table in first place by four points to second place San Antonio FC. Having conceded the least amount of goals, the Californian side also has the highest goal differential in the League with +22.

Russel Cicerone is the biggest attacking threat that Sacramento has at its disposal. The league-legend has 13 goals to his name in 2023 (second most in USLC), eight more goals than Luis Felipe who has the second most goals scored for the Republic (five). With teammates like Keko (six assists) and Jack Gurr (four assists) feeding Cicerone chances, its attack is one of the most lethal in the USL.

Sacramento come to Birmingham on a three-match win streak, including two back-to-back away wins. The Legionnaires must be on their A-game to triumph over the Western conference leaders.

To keep up to date on all things Legion FC, fans are encouraged to follow @bhmlegion on social media and keep an eye on bhmlegion.com and the Legion FC app. Download the Legion FC app today on Apple or Android, and sync our 2023 schedule to your calendar HERE.