Legion FC travels to Tulsa for first away trip of 2022 USL Championship Season
MATCH INFO:
FC Tulsa vs Birmingham Legion FC
Saturday, March 19
7:30pm CT Kickoff
ONEOK Field – Tulsa, OK
Watch – My68 & ESPN+
Birmingham Legion FC hits the road for the first time this season as it travels to Oklahoma to take on FC Tulsa. Coming off the back of a 1-1 draw with the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Legion FC will look to earn its first win of a young USL Championship season.
Saturday’s contest will be the fifth meeting between the two sides, with their most recent encounter at ONEOK Field ending in a 1-1 draw. The goalscorer for Legion FC in that match was JJ Williams, who now represents FC Tulsa. Williams is not the only player to find themselves on the other side of this tie, as Birmingham’s Marlon Santos spent three seasons with Tulsa prior to making the move to the Magic City.
Both players will look to make things difficult for their former teams – Williams, whose influence off the bench is well known by BHM, is still searching for his first goal in FC Tulsa colors, while Marlon, who opened his Legion FC account with a stunning goal in his official debut with the club, will look to carry his goal-scoring momentum in his return to ONEOK Field.
Tulsa welcomes the Three Sparks into their home turf after losing on the road to the Charleston Battery. FC Tulsa was held scoreless in the match, an outcome they will be looking to remedy in their home opener. In addition to the aforementioned Williams, forwards Joaqín Rivas, Dario Suarez, and the recently reinstated Rodrigo Da Costa will be the biggest parts of doing so, as all are proven finishers capable of capitalizing on their chances.
Unfortunately for the FC Tulsa attacking unit, it is a stout Birmingham backline that stands in their way. The back three of Alex Crognale, Phanuel Kavita, and Freddy Kleemann has made their strength as a defensive group apparent. Despite conceding in the season opener against the Rowdies, Head Coach Tom Soehn’s back line displayed its cohesiveness as a group, as well as an ability to control play from the back. This defensive solidity will be crucial for the visiting side, as they are still working on integrating a new look offense.
Following its trip to take on FC Tulsa, Legion FC returns to Protective Stadium on Saturday, March 26 vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks at 6:30PM. Tickets are available HERE or by calling the Legion FC Ticket Office at 205-791-7145, and the match will air live on My68 and on ESPN+
