2020 Birmingham Legion FC season

Last updated
Birmingham Legion FC
2020 season
Owners
List
Head coach Tom Soehn
USL Championship Conference: 7th
Group G: 2nd
USLC Playoffs Conference Quarterfinals
2020 U.S. Open Cup Cancelled
Biggest win MIA 0–4 BHM (September 16)
Biggest defeat BHM 1–3 CLT (September 12)
MEM 3–1 BHM (October 3)
TBR 4–2 BHM (October 10)
←  2019
2021  →

The 2020 Birmingham Legion FC season was the club's second season of existence and their second in the USL Championship, the second tier of American soccer. [1] This article covers the period from November 18, 2019, the day after the 2019 USL-C Playoff Final, to the conclusion of the 2020 USL-C Playoff Final, scheduled for November 12–16, 2020. [2]

Contents

Roster

As of January 22, 2020 [3]
No.NameNationalityPosition(s)Date of birth (age)Signed inPrevious clubApps.Goals
Goalkeepers
0 Joe Nasco Flag of the United States.svg GK June 18, 1984 (age 36)2019 Flag of the United States.svg Fort Lauderdale Strikers 00
1 Matt Van Oekel Flag of the United States.svg GK September 20, 1986 (age 34)2019 Flag of the United States.svg OKC Energy 00
18 Trevor Spangenberg Flag of the United States.svg GK April 21, 1991 (age 30)2019 Flag of the United States.svg Richmond Kickers 00
Defenders
3 Kyle Fisher Flag of the United States.svg DF June 19, 1994 (age 26)2019 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Montreal Impact 00
12 Eric Avila Flag of the United States.svg DF November 24, 1987 (age 33)2019 Flag of the United States.svg Las Vegas Lights 00
15 Akeem Ward Flag of the United States.svg DF January 6, 1996 (age 25)2019 Flag of the United States.svg D.C. United 00
17 Gael Mabiala Flag of France.svg DF June 7, 1994 (age 26)2019 Flag of the United States.svg UAB Blazers 00
22 Mathieu Laurent Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg DF February 28, 1996 (age 25)2019 Flag of the United States.svg UAB Blazers 00
23 Benjamin Kucera Flag of the United States.svg DF August 10, 1994 (age 26)2019 Flag of the United States.svg Birmingham Hammers 00
30 Razak Cromwell Flag of Ghana.svg DF October 3, 1994 (age 26)2019 Flag of Ghana.svg Dreams FC (loan)00
33 Kyle Culbertson Flag of the United States.svg DF November 3, 1992 (age 28)2019 Flag of the United States.svg Saint Louis FC 00
Midfielders
2 Marcos Ugarte Flag of the United States.svg MF December 2, 1992 (age 28)2019 Flag of Denmark.svg Ringkøbing 00
5 Mikey Lopez Flag of the United States.svg MF February 20, 1993 (age 28)2019 Flag of the United States.svg San Antonio FC 00
6 Anderson Asiedu Flag of Ghana.svg MF June 12, 1996 (age 24)2019 Flag of the United States.svg Atlanta United 00
8 Joe Holland Flag of England.svg MF April 21, 1993 (age 28)2019 Flag of the United States.svg Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 00
14 Daniel Johnson Flag of the United States.svg MF September 8, 1995 (age 25)2019 Flag of the United States.svg Chicago Fire 00
16 Daigo Kobayashi Flag of Japan.svg MF February 19, 1983 (age 38)2019 Flag of the United States.svg Las Vegas Lights 00
21 Zachary Herivaux Flag of Haiti.svg MF February 1, 1996 (age 25)2019 Flag of the United States.svg New England Revolution (loan)00
Forwards
7 Brian Wright Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg FW March 24, 1995 (age 26)2019 Flag of the United States.svg New England Revolution (loan)00
9 Chandler Hoffman Flag of the United States.svg FW August 17, 1990 (age 30)2019 Flag of the United States.svg Real Monarchs 00
10 Prosper Kasim Flag of Ghana.svg FW December 15, 1996 (age 24)2019 Flag of Sweden.svg IFK Göteborg 00
11 JJ Williams Flag of the United States.svg FW January 4, 1998 (age 23)2019 Flag of the United States.svg Columbus Crew SC (loan)00
13 Tyler Savitsky Flag of the United States.svg FW July 5, 1996 (age 24)2019 Flag of Denmark.svg Næstved 00
27 Edward Opoku Flag of Ghana.svg FW August 1, 1996 (age 24)2019 Flag of the United States.svg Columbus Crew SC (loan)00
88 Femi Hollinger-Janzen Flag of Benin.svg FW December 14, 1993 (age 27)2019 Flag of the United States.svg New England Revolution 00

Competitions

Exhibitions

February 8Preseason 1 Birmingham Legion 2–3 Atlanta United FC Birmingham, AL
3:30PM CDT Brett Soccerball shade.svg 48' (pen.)
Mensah Soccerball shade.svg 80'		 BIR report
ATL report 		Barco Soccerball shade.svg 44'
Mulraney Yellow card.svg 51'
Jahn Soccerball shade.svg 67' (pen.)
Rossetto Soccerball shade.svg 90+2'		Stadium: BBVA Field
Attendance: 6,722
February 16Preseason 2 Birmingham Legion v TBD Birmingham, AL
CDT Stadium: BBVA Field
Attendance: Closed
February 19Preseason 3 Birmingham Legion 3–0 Forward Madison FC Hoover, AL
1:00 PM CST
  • Bergmann Soccerball shade.svg 27'
  • Servania Soccerball shade.svg 40'
  • Hoffman Soccerball shade.svg 50'
 Report Stadium: Hoover Metropolitan Complex
Attendance: Closed
Note: 70 minute scrimmage
February 22Preseason 4 Birmingham Legion v Atlanta United 2 Marietta, GA
CDT Stadium: Atlanta United Training Facility
February 22Preseason 5 Antigua GFC Flag of Guatemala.svg v Flag of the United States.svg Birmingham Legion Antigua, Guatemala
12:45PM CDT

USL Championship

Standings — Group G

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsPPGQualification
1 Charlotte Independence 168442422+2281.75Advance to USL Championship Playoffs
2 Birmingham Legion FC 167452919+10251.56
3 North Carolina FC 156181721−4191.27
4 Memphis 901 FC 154472431−7161.07
Source: USL

Match results

In the preparations for the resumption of league play following the shutdown prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Birmingham's schedule was announced on July 7. [4]

July 151 Birmingham Legion 3–0 Memphis 901 FC Birmingham, AL
7:00 PM CDT Lapa Soccerball shade.svg 22', Soccerball shade.svg 41'
Servania Yellow card.svg 30'
Wright Soccerball shade.svg 31'
A. Crognale Yellow card.svg 52'		 Report da Silva Yellow card.svg 27'
Carroll Red card.svg 58'		Stadium: BBVA Field
Referee: Matthew Thompson
Note: Televised live on ESPN2
July 192 Charleston Battery 1–2 Birmingham Legion Charleston, SC
6:00 PM CDT Lewis Soccerball shade.svg 29'
Daley Yellow card.svg 51'		 Report Wright Soccerball shade.svg 12'
A. Crognale Yellow card.svg 40'
Rufe Yellow card.svg 45+1'
Cromwell Yellow card.svg 48'
Lapa Soccerball shade.svg 54'
Akinyode Yellow card.svg 82'
Servania 		Stadium: MUSC Health Stadium
Referee: Kevin Broadley
July 253 Birmingham Legion 1–1 Tampa Bay Rowdies Birmingham, AL
7:30 PM CDT A. Crognale Soccerball shade.svg 16'
Akinyode Yellow card.svg 45+1'
Asiedu Yellow card.svg 66'		 Report Lasso Yellow card.svg 13'
Guenzatti Soccerball shade.svg 51'		Stadium: BBVA Field
Referee: Chris Ruska
August 14 North Carolina FC 1–0 Birmingham Legion Cary, NC
6:00 PM CDT Donovan Yellow card.svg 29'
Fortune Soccerball shade.svg 51', Yellow card.svg 90+2'
Kristo Yellow card.svg 87'		 Report Akinyode Red card.svg 33'
Brett Yellow card.svg 45'		Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Referee: Kevin Broadley
August 55 Birmingham Legion 4–1 Charlotte Independence Birmingham, AL
7:00 PM CDT Dean Soccerball shade.svg 5'
Brett Soccerball shade.svg 11', Soccerball shade.svg 66'
Lapa Soccerball shade.svg 52'		 Report Vadalá Yellow card.svg 29'
Martínez Soccerball shade.svg 76' (pen.)		Stadium: BBVA Field
Referee: Matthew Thompson
August 86 Birmingham Legion 1–0 Atlanta United 2 Birmingham, AL
6:30 PM CDT A. Crognale Yellow card.svg 27'
Kasim Soccerball shade.svg 45+1'		 Report Jadama Yellow card.svg 36'Stadium: BBVA Field
Referee: Muhammad Hassan
August 127 North Carolina FC 1–1 Birmingham Legion Matthews, NC
6:00 PM CDT Etou Yellow card.svg 52'
Kelly Soccerball shade.svg 82'		 Report Lopez Yellow card.svg 3', Soccerball shade.svg 90+3'
E. Crognale Yellow card.svg 47'
Kasim Yellow card.svg 56'
Asiedu Yellow card.svg 68' Yellow-red card.svg 80'		Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Referee: John Matto
August 158 North Carolina FC 0–2 Birmingham Legion Cary, NC
7:30 PM CDT Donovan Yellow card.svg 48' Report Servania Soccerball shade.svg 18'
Brett Soccerball shade.svg 21' (pen.)
A. Crognale Yellow card.svg 42'
Akinyode Yellow card.svg 46'
Van Oekel Yellow card.svg 59'
Lopez Yellow card.svg 60'		Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Referee: Matthew Franz
August 229 Birmingham Legion 2–2 Memphis 901 FC Birmingham, AL
6:30 PM CDT Lapa Soccerball shade.svg 12'
Asiedu Yellow card.svg 24'
Akinyode Yellow card.svg 28'
Brett Soccerball shade.svg 90+8' (pen.)		 Report Mentzingen Soccerball shade.svg 18', Yellow card.svg 90+4'
Marsh-Brown Soccerball shade.svg 29' (pen.), Yellow card.svg 52'
Gonzalez Yellow card.svg 45'
Hague Yellow card.svg 90+2'		Stadium: BBVA Field
Referee: Muhammad Hassan
August 2910 Charlotte Independence 1–4 Birmingham Legion Matthews, NC
6:00 PM CDT Etou Yellow card.svg 82'
Kelly Soccerball shade.svg 86'		 Report A. Crognale Yellow card.svg 24'
Servania Soccerball shade.svg 26'
Brett Soccerball shade.svg 33', Soccerball shade.svg 49'
E. Crognale Yellow card.svg 42' Yellow-red card.svg 58'
Asiedu Yellow card.svg 63'
Wright Soccerball shade.svg 83', Yellow card.svg 90+1'		Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Referee: Sergii Demianchuk
September 211 Birmingham Legion 1–2 North Carolina FC Birmingham, AL
7:00 PM CDT Kobayashi Yellow card.svg 45+1'
Kasim Soccerball shade.svg 59'
Brett Soccerball shade cross.svg90'		 Report Albadawi Soccerball shade.svg 24'
Fortune Soccerball shade.svg 62' (pen.)		Stadium: BBVA Field
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
September 512 Memphis 901 1–1 Birmingham Legion Memphis, TN
7:00 PM CDT Baxter Yellow card.svg 25'
Marsh-Brown Soccerball shade.svg 28'
Metzger Yellow card.svg 61' Yellow-red card.svg 73'		 Report E. Crognale Yellow card.svg 43'
Lapa Soccerball shade.svg 48' (pen.), Yellow card.svg 89'		Stadium: AutoZone Park
Referee: Jervis Atagana
September 1213 Birmingham Legion 1–3 Charlotte Independence Birmingham, AL
6:30 PM CDT Brett Soccerball shade.svg 34'
Asiedu Yellow card.svg 48' Yellow-red card.svg 60'
 Report Kelly Soccerball shade.svg 17', Yellow card.svg 30', Soccerball shade.svg 45'
Etou Yellow card.svg 23'
Lacroix Yellow card.svg 81'
Gebhard Soccerball shade.svg 86'
Johnson Yellow card.svg 88' Yellow-red card.svg 90'		Stadium: BBVA Field
Referee: Matthew Thompson
September 1614 Miami FC 0–4 Birmingham Legion Miami, FL
6:30 PM CDT Rozeboom Yellow card.svg 52' Report Brett Soccerball shade.svg 35', Soccerball shade.svg 55'
Dean Yellow card.svg 38'
A. Crognale Soccerball shade.svg 42', Soccerball shade.svg 45+1'		Stadium: Riccardo Silva Stadium
Referee: Alyssa Nichols
September 2615 Birmingham Legion 1–2 North Carolina FC Birmingham, AL
6:30 PM CDT Cromwell Yellow card.svg 23'
Servania Soccerball shade.svg 67'
Williams Yellow card.svg 87'		 Report Perez Soccerball shade.svg 7', Yellow card.svg 37'
Fortune Soccerball shade.svg 26'
Kristo Yellow card.svg 90+6'		Stadium: BBVA Field
Referee: Jonathan Bilinski
October 316 Memphis 901 3–1 Birmingham Legion Memphis, TN
7:00 PM CDT Jennings Soccerball shade.svg 36', Soccerball shade.svg 54', Soccerball shade.svg 86'
Muckette Yellow card.svg 43'
Marsh-Brown Yellow card.svg 79'		 Report A. Crognale Yellow card.svg 23'
Lopez Yellow card.svg 33'
Lapa Soccerball shade.svg 41'
Williams Yellow card.svg 66'		Stadium: AutoZone Park
Attendance: 901
Referee: Ben Meyer

USL Cup Playoffs

October 10 Conf. Quarterfinals Tampa Bay Rowdies 4–2 Birmingham Legion St. Petersburg, FL
6:30 PM CDT Doherty Soccerball shade.svg 8'
Guenzatti Soccerball shade.svg 38'
Mkosana Soccerball shade.svg 78'
Fernandes Soccerball shade.svg 80'		 Report Crognale Yellow card.svg 10'
Lopez Yellow card.svg 20'
Williams Yellow card.svg 42'
Kasim Soccerball shade.svg 57'
Lapa Soccerball shade.svg 63'
Cromwell Yellow card.svg 85'		Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 1,098
Referee: Eric Tattersall

U.S. Open Cup

As a USL Championship club, Birmingham will enter the competition in the Second Round, to be played April 7–9. [5]

April 7 2nd Round Chattanooga Red Wolves SC Flag of Tennessee.svg P–P Flag of Alabama.svg Birmingham Legion Chattanooga, TN
7:00 PM CDT Stadium: Chattanooga Christian School
Note: Match postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic [6]

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References

  1. ↑ Humphries, Clayton (December 14, 2018). "Inaugural Legion FC match set for March 9, 2019". BHMLegion.com. Birmingham Legion FC. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  2. ↑ "USL Championship Unveils 2020 Schedule" . Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Birmingham Legion roster". BHMLegion.com. Birmingham Legion FC. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Legion FC Releases New 2020 USL Championship Schedule". bhmlegion.com. July 7, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Restructured Competition Format For 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Provides Opportunity For More "David vs. Goliath" Matchups In 107th Edition Of U.S. Soccer's National Championship". U.S. Soccer Federation. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Soccer Temporarily Suspends 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Due to COVID-19 Outbreak". ussoccer.com. March 13, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
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