April 10, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Birmingham Legion FC News Release
Legion FC returns to Protective Stadium on Sunday, April 10, after beating NPSL side Southern States SC in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in U.S. Open Cup play. The Three Sparks advanced to the third round of the United States’ oldest cup competition by way of a 3-1 victory thanks to goals from Prosper Kasim, Bruno Lapa, and Marlon Santos.
Sunday will see Head Coach Tommy Soehn lead his men against a visiting Hartford Athletic. The last time the two sides faced was in both of their inaugural seasons in 2019, a USL Championship campaign that saw Athletic earn a 2-2 draw in Alabama and 4-0 win at home. Almost 3 years removed from their initial meeting, both teams are a far cry from the sides they were.
Only five players that suited up for Legion FC to take on Hartford in 2019 remain on the squad (Matt VanOekel, Trevor Spangenberg, Mikey Lopez, Anderson Asiedu, & Prosper Kasim), while Hartford midfielder Danny Barrera remains the sole player from his side’s inaugural campaign. With both clubs fielding vastly different lineups from the last time they met and having no substantial experience playing against one another, Sunday’s contest will be sure to excite as both sides battle to establish their playstyle over the other.
Legion FC enters the match after a three-goal outing in the U.S. Open Cup, an offensive performance the club will hope to continue and establish as a focal point of their identity on the pitch. A key factor in doing so is new signing Juan Agudelo. Agudelo made his debut for Birmingham in yesterday’s Open Cup tie, displaying his quality in the attacking third by putting his teammates into positions to threaten the opposing defense. Additionally, Kasim will look to continue his impressive start to the 2022 season after netting his third goal of the year against Southern States SC. The only members of the team on the Legion FC injury report at this time are Freddy Kleemann (knee) and Matthew Corcoran (knee).
For the visitors, forward Prince Saydee will be a crucial piece going forward. Saydee has recorded two assists for Hartford this season in USLC play, adding a goal to his name in his side’s U.S. Open Cup match. In the middle of the park, Andre Lewis has pulled the strings regarding chance creation. Lewis leads his team in key passes with eight, a number he will have to be on his game to increase, as he faces off against a stout Birmingham midfield and defensive unit.
With both sides at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and looking to earn their first league win of the 2022 USL Championship season, expect a hard-fought, fast-paced match under the lights of Protective Stadium.
Tickets for the match are available HERE or by calling the Legion FC Ticket Office at 205-791-7145. After hosting Hartford Athletic, Legion FC travels to Detroit on April 15th to take on Detroit City FC for the first time. The match will be nationally televised on ESPN Deportes at 6:00PM CT, giving the Three Sparks their second nationally televised game of the season.
The Black & Gold will return to Birmingham between April 19-21 to host USL League 1 side South Georgia Tormenta FC in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup. The next league home match for Legion FC will be on Wednesday, April 27, at 7:00PM CT against the Charleston Battery. Details about our new ‘Everybody Wins on Wednesdays’ campaign coming soon, so keep an eye on @bhmlegion on social media!
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