MATCH INFO:
Birmingham Legion FC vs Las Vegas Lights FC
Wednesday, May 18
7:00PM CT Kickoff
Protective Stadium – Birmingham, AL
Get Tickets Today
‘Everybody Wins on Wednesday’ Specials
Watch – My68 & ESPN+
Birmingham Legion FC returns home to Protective Stadium on Wednesday, May 18, to host Las Vegas Lights FC at 7PM CT. The match comes after a 1-0 defeat on the road to Pittsburgh, a result the Three Sparks will look to bounce back from against a Las Vegas side that is winless in its last four matches.
The Black & Gold continue to create chances on the offensive end, putting up the fifth most shots (142) in the USL Championship, but aim to find the back of the net with more regularity, having scored the four fewest goals in the USLC (eight).
Enzo Martinez leads the team in chances created (23) and assists (two), Prosper Kasim is tops in goals (three), and Marlon Santos is first in shots (18). On the defensive end the team has been stout, allowing the fifth fewest goals (11), led by goalkeeper Matt VanOekel’s 28 saves, third most in the league.
Las Vegas comes into the first-ever matchup between these two teams in sixth place in the USLC Western Conference, but on a bit of a slide, winless in its last four games after a hot start to the season. The team is 12th in the league in goals scored (15) and in goals conceded (16), and is led by one man wrecking crew, forward Danny Trejo.
Trejo leads the team, and the USLC, in goals (six), paces Vegas in assists (four), is tops on the team in shots (19) and is second in chances created (8). In addition to Trejo, forward Cal Jennings presents another attacking threat for the Birmingham defense to keep an eye on.
Jennings is currently second for Lights FC in goals scored (3). The last time he came up against the Three Sparks, he was plying his trade for Legion FC rival Memphis 901 FC. The contest saw Jennings bag a hat-trick, a performance his current side will hope he can replicate on Wednesday.
Mitigating Trejo and Jennings’ impact on the game will be a must for the Birmingham defense, as doing so will remove the focal pieces of Head Coach Enrique Duran’s attack.
Only one BHM players makes up this week’s UAB Sports and Exercise Medicine Injury Report – defender Freddy Kleemann is out with a knee injury.
Tomorrow, Legion FC’s 2022 ‘Everybody Wins on Wednesday’ campaign continues! Head to the South Terrace are underneath the videoboard starting at 6:00PM to take advantage of discounted Miller Lites, White Claws, and TrimTab beers up to the 15th minute of the BHMvLV game.
The match kicks off at 7:00PM and the squad in Black & Gold needs the support of another great home crowd as it aims to collect three points at home!
Legion FC will travel to face New York Red Bulls II on Friday, May 27, at 6:00PM CT. Following their trip to take on the Red Bulls, the Three Sparks will then make their first trip out to Wild Horse Pass in Phoenix, Arizona, to take on Phoenix Rising FC. The meeting with Phoenix will be on Saturday, May 4, at 9:30PM CT.
