MATCH INFO:
Birmingham Legion FC at New York Red Bulls II
Friday, May 27
6:00PM CT Kickoff
MSU Soccer Park – Montclair, NJ
Watch – My68 & ESPN+
Birmingham Legion FC hits the road for the 12th round of USL Championship play, taking on New York Red Bulls II in Montclair, New Jersey, this Friday. The meeting between the two sides will be the first since they last faced off in October of 2019.
Legion FC claimed victory that contest via a 2-1 result, with current Birmingham forward Prosper Kasim marking his name on the scoresheet. Kasim is one of the few remaining players from the side that last beat Red Bulls II, and he will be making the trip up to Montclair with a vastly different team than the one New York last saw.
This season, Kasim leads the Three Sparks in goals scored (3), while Enzo Martinez is first in chances created (25) and assists (2). Kasim and Martinez have been crucial pieces of a Legion FC attack that has tallied the fourth most shots in the entire USLC (160) – despite that, the Black & Gold have scored the third fewest goals across the course of the season (8).
In addition to Kasim and Martinez, forward Edi Horvat brings an exciting skillest into the fold. Combining strength and height with proficient on-ball skills, Horvat has proved to be a nuisance for rival defenders to deal with and it seems as though it is only a matter of time until he opens his account for the Black & Gold.
Their opponents find themselves in a similar situation, as Red Bulls II have the least amount of goals scored in the league (6). Unlike Birmingham, however, New York’s defense does not make up for what they lack on the offensive end. Head Coach Gary Lewis’ side has allowed 20 goals in 11 matches played, a run of form that has seen them lose eight of their last nine matches.
Forward Jeremy Rafanello leads the side in scoring (2), while midfielder O’Vonte Mullings is the frontrunner in assists (3). Neutralizing these two would further hinder an already struggling Red Bulls II side, creating an opportunity for Legion FC to break its scoring duck and climb the Eastern Conference table.
Two BHM players makes up this week’s UAB Sports and Exercise Medicine Injury Report – defender Freddy Kleemann is out with a knee injury, while midfielder Anderson Asiedu is listed as questionable.
Following their trip to take on Red Bulls II, 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, June 4, at 9:30PM CT.
Legion FC will return home to Protective Stadium on Wednesday, June 8, to take on bitter rival Memphis 901 FC at 7:00PM CT. Tickets for the match can be purchased HERE, or by calling the Legion FC Ticket Office at 205-791-7145.
