Two second half goals from the visitors paired with a cleansheet led to a 2-0 win for the Switchbacks
BIRMINGHAM, AL (March 26, 2022) — Birmingham Legion FC fell 2-0 to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in the first match of a three-match homestand. Goals from forward Michee Ngalina and midfielder Ben Mines lifted the Switchbacks over the Black & Gold, giving the latter its second loss of the season.
The first half of the contest saw both sides vying for control of the game, with Legion FC establishing control toward the end of the first 45’. Along with this pressure came several chances for the hosts, as they managed to work the ball into the box from either flank on separate occasions to threaten the Colorado Springs net. Despite that, there was not a clear-cut opportunity to find the opening goal for Head Coach Tom Soehn’s men.
A similar trend would follow in the second half, as both sides fought for the edge in a tight contest. Unfortunately for the home crowd, it would be the visitors who found the breakthrough. Switchbacks FC forward Michee Ngalina opened the scoring in the 70th minute via a near post rocket that found the roof of the net. Down a goal, Birmingham began pressing for an equalizer. The clearest chance came in the 87th minute, when midfielder Eli Crognale played in forward Macky Diop with a beautiful, lofted ball over the defense. Macky did well to control the ball and get a shot on target, but the Colorado Springs ‘keeper made himself big and deny the hosts an equalizer.
Soon after Diop’s opportunity, the Switchbacks would secure all three points with a goal from substitute Ben Mines. Mines found the back of the net with a near post finish, meeting a well-placed pass from forward Hadji Barry and putting it in off the inside of the post.
“Overall, it was a tough one going in, given that Freddy [Kleemann] went down last game and Alex [Crognale] got the red card,” said midfielder Eli Crognale. “They were two of our three in the backline and that changed everything about how we were going to approach the game with our formation, with personnel, and with my decision to [announce my retirement last Tuesday] and them calling me back in [for this game].
“Things have kind of been all over the place and, in a way, it showed. Overall, we were just not good tonight. The Switchbacks are not a team that you can come and just not be good because they’re a very chaotic and athletic team. They played right into that and took advantage of our mistakes.”
Soehn when asked about the pressure the team feels after starting the season winless after three games:
“There’s always your own pressure that you put on yourself. You go into the locker room, and you can feel that with the guys. It’s a long season — the teams that are hot in the end are the teams that do the best, but we still have a lot of work to do to turn this into positive results.”
Box Score:
| 1st Half | 2nd Half | |
| BHM | 0 | 0 |
| COS | 0 | 2 |
Goals:
COS – 70’ – #23 Elvis Amoh
COS – 90’ – #20 Ben Mines
BHM – 4-3-3 – #1 Matt VanOekel; #24 Jonny Dean, #3 Phanuel Kavita ©, #27 Thomas Vancaeyezeele, #5 Mikey Lopez; #6 Anderson Asiedu, #19 Enzo Martinez, #8 Bruno Lapa; #10 Prosper Kasim, #9 Edi Horvat, #11 Marlon Santos
COS – 4-1-4-1 – #1 Jeff Caldwell; #7 Malik Johnson, #15 Jimmy Ockford, #5 Matt Mahoney, #33 Isaiah Foster; #16 Beverly Makangila; #6 Cam Lindley, #8 Zach Zandi, #11 Michee Ngalina, #10 Hadji Barry; #23 Elvis Amoh
The Black and Gold are back at Protective Stadium next weekend, Saturday, April 2 at 6:30pm CT to battle Louisville City FC. Get your tickets today!
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