2020 Birmingham Legion FC season

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]

Birmingham Legion FC
2020 season
Owners
Head coachTom Soehn
USL ChampionshipConference: 7th
Group G: 2nd
USLC PlayoffsConference Quarterfinals
2020 U.S. Open CupCancelled
Biggest winMIA 0–4 BHM (September 16)
Biggest defeatBHM 1–3 CLT (September 12)
MEM 3–1 BHM (October 3)
TBR 4–2 BHM (October 10)

Roster

As of January 22, 2020[3]
No. Name Nationality Position(s) Date of birth (age) Signed in Previous club Apps. Goals
Goalkeepers
0Joe NascoGK (1984-06-18) June 18, 19842019 Fort Lauderdale Strikers00
1Matt Van OekelGK (1986-09-20) September 20, 19862019 OKC Energy00
18Trevor SpangenbergGK (1991-04-21) April 21, 19912019 Richmond Kickers00
Defenders
3Kyle FisherDF (1994-06-19) June 19, 19942019 Montreal Impact00
12Eric AvilaDF (1987-11-24) November 24, 19872019 Las Vegas Lights00
15Akeem WardDF (1996-01-06) January 6, 19962019 D.C. United00
17Gael MabialaDF (1994-06-07) June 7, 19942019 UAB Blazers00
22Mathieu LaurentDF (1996-02-28) February 28, 19962019 UAB Blazers00
23Benjamin KuceraDF (1994-08-10) August 10, 19942019 Birmingham Hammers00
30Razak CromwellDF (1994-10-03) October 3, 19942019 Dreams FC (loan)00
33Kyle CulbertsonDF (1992-11-03) November 3, 19922019 Saint Louis FC00
Midfielders
2Marcos UgarteMF (1992-12-02) December 2, 19922019 Ringkøbing00
5Mikey LopezMF (1993-02-20) February 20, 19932019 San Antonio FC00
6Anderson AsieduMF (1996-06-12) June 12, 19962019 Atlanta United00
8Joe HollandMF (1993-04-21) April 21, 19932019 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC00
14Daniel JohnsonMF (1995-09-08) September 8, 19952019 Chicago Fire00
16Daigo KobayashiMF (1983-02-19) February 19, 19832019 Las Vegas Lights00
21Zachary HerivauxMF (1996-02-01) February 1, 19962019 New England Revolution (loan)00
Forwards
7Brian WrightFW (1995-03-24) March 24, 19952019 New England Revolution (loan)00
9Chandler HoffmanFW (1990-08-17) August 17, 19902019 Real Monarchs00
10Prosper KasimFW (1996-12-15) December 15, 19962019 IFK Göteborg00
11JJ WilliamsFW (1998-01-04) January 4, 19982019 Columbus Crew SC (loan)00
13Tyler SavitskyFW (1996-07-05) July 5, 19962019 Næstved00
27Edward OpokuFW (1996-08-01) August 1, 19962019 Columbus Crew SC (loan)00
88Femi Hollinger-JanzenFW (1993-12-14) December 14, 19932019 New England Revolution00

Competitions

Exhibitions

February 8 Preseason 1 Birmingham Legion 23 Atlanta United FC Birmingham, AL
3:30PM CDT Brett  48' (pen.)
Mensah  80'
BIR report
ATL report
Barco  44'
Mulraney  51'
Jahn  67' (pen.)
Rossetto  90+2'
Stadium: BBVA Field
Attendance: 6,722
February 16 Preseason 2 Birmingham Legion v TBD Birmingham, AL
CDT Stadium: BBVA Field
Attendance: Closed
February 19 Preseason 3 Birmingham Legion 3–0 Forward Madison FC Hoover, AL
1:00 PM CST
  • Bergmann  27'
  • Servania  40'
  • Hoffman  50'
Report Stadium: Hoover Metropolitan Complex
Attendance: Closed
Note: 70 minute scrimmage
February 22 Preseason 4 Birmingham Legion v Atlanta United 2 Marietta, GA
CDT Stadium: Atlanta United Training Facility
February 22 Preseason 5 Antigua GFC v Birmingham Legion Antigua, Guatemala
12:45PM CDT

USL Championship

Standings — Group G

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
1 Charlotte Independence 16 8 4 4 24 22 +2 28 1.75 Advance to USL Championship Playoffs
2 Birmingham Legion FC 16 7 4 5 29 19 +10 25 1.56
3 North Carolina FC 15 6 1 8 17 21 4 19 1.27
4 Memphis 901 FC 15 4 4 7 24 31 7 16 1.07
Source: USL

Match results

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

July 15 1 Birmingham Legion 3–0 Memphis 901 FC Birmingham, AL
7:00 PM CDT Lapa  22',  41'
Servania  30'
Wright  31'
A. Crognale  52'
Report da Silva  27'
Carroll  58'
Stadium: BBVA Field
Referee: Matthew Thompson
Note: Televised live on ESPN2
July 19 2 Charleston Battery 1–2 Birmingham Legion Charleston, SC
6:00 PM CDT Lewis  29'
Daley  51'
Report Wright  12'
A. Crognale  40'
Rufe  45+1'
Cromwell  48'
Lapa  54'
Akinyode  82'
Servania
Stadium: MUSC Health Stadium
Referee: Kevin Broadley
July 25 3 Birmingham Legion 1–1 Tampa Bay Rowdies Birmingham, AL
7:30 PM CDT A. Crognale  16'
Akinyode  45+1'
Asiedu  66'
Report Lasso  13'
Guenzatti  51'
Stadium: BBVA Field
Referee: Chris Ruska
August 1 4 North Carolina FC 1–0 Birmingham Legion Cary, NC
6:00 PM CDT Donovan  29'
Fortune  51',  90+2'
Kristo  87'
Report Akinyode  33'
Brett  45'
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Referee: Kevin Broadley
August 5 5 Birmingham Legion 4–1 Charlotte Independence Birmingham, AL
7:00 PM CDT Dean  5'
Brett  11',  66'
Lapa  52'
Report Vadalá  29'
Martínez  76' (pen.)
Stadium: BBVA Field
Referee: Matthew Thompson
August 8 6 Birmingham Legion 1–0 Atlanta United 2 Birmingham, AL
6:30 PM CDT A. Crognale  27'
Kasim  45+1'
Report Jadama  36' Stadium: BBVA Field
Referee: Muhammad Hassan
August 12 7 North Carolina FC 1–1 Birmingham Legion Matthews, NC
6:00 PM CDT Etou  52'
Kelly  82'
Report Lopez  3',  90+3'
E. Crognale  47'
Kasim  56'
Asiedu  68'  80'
Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Referee: John Matto
August 15 8 North Carolina FC 0–2 Birmingham Legion Cary, NC
7:30 PM CDT Donovan  48' Report Servania  18'
Brett  21' (pen.)
A. Crognale  42'
Akinyode  46'
Van Oekel  59'
Lopez  60'
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Referee: Matthew Franz
August 22 9 Birmingham Legion 2–2 Memphis 901 FC Birmingham, AL
6:30 PM CDT Lapa  12'
Asiedu  24'
Akinyode  28'
Brett  90+8' (pen.)
Report Mentzingen  18',  90+4'
Marsh-Brown  29' (pen.),  52'
Gonzalez  45'
Hague  90+2'
Stadium: BBVA Field
Referee: Muhammad Hassan
August 29 10 Charlotte Independence 1–4 Birmingham Legion Matthews, NC
6:00 PM CDT Etou  82'
Kelly  86'
Report A. Crognale  24'
Servania  26'
Brett  33',  49'
E. Crognale  42'  58'
Asiedu  63'
Wright  83',  90+1'
Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Referee: Sergii Demianchuk
September 2 11 Birmingham Legion 1–2 North Carolina FC Birmingham, AL
7:00 PM CDT Kobayashi  45+1'
Kasim  59'
Brett 90'
Report Albadawi  24'
Fortune  62' (pen.)
Stadium: BBVA Field
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
September 5 12 Memphis 901 1–1 Birmingham Legion Memphis, TN
7:00 PM CDT Baxter  25'
Marsh-Brown  28'
Metzger  61'  73'
Report E. Crognale  43'
Lapa  48' (pen.),  89'
Stadium: AutoZone Park
Referee: Jervis Atagana
September 12 13 Birmingham Legion 1–3 Charlotte Independence Birmingham, AL
6:30 PM CDT Brett  34'
Asiedu  48'  60'
Report Kelly  17',  30',  45'
Etou  23'
Lacroix  81'
Gebhard  86'
Johnson  88'  90'
Stadium: BBVA Field
Referee: Matthew Thompson
September 16 14 Miami FC 0–4 Birmingham Legion Miami, FL
6:30 PM CDT Rozeboom  52' Report Brett  35',  55'
Dean  38'
A. Crognale  42',  45+1'
Stadium: Riccardo Silva Stadium
Referee: Alyssa Nichols
September 26 15 Birmingham Legion 1–2 North Carolina FC Birmingham, AL
6:30 PM CDT Cromwell  23'
Servania  67'
Williams  87'
Report Perez  7',  37'
Fortune  26'
Kristo  90+6'
Stadium: BBVA Field
Referee: Jonathan Bilinski
October 3 16 Memphis 901 3–1 Birmingham Legion Memphis, TN
7:00 PM CDT Jennings  36',  54',  86'
Muckette  43'
Marsh-Brown  79'
Report A. Crognale  23'
Lopez  33'
Lapa  41'
Williams  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  8'
Guenzatti  38'
Mkosana  78'
Fernandes  80'
Report Crognale  10'
Lopez  20'
Williams  42'
Kasim  57'
Lapa  63'
Cromwell  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 P–P Birmingham Legion Chattanooga, TN
7:00 PM CDT Stadium: Chattanooga Christian School
Note: Match postponed due to coronavirus pandemic[6]

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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