MATCH INFO:
Birmingham Legion FC at North Carolina FC
Saturday, August 15 – 6:00 PM CT
WakeMed Soccer Park – Cary, NC
Watch – My68, ESPN+
Legion FC finishes its two-game road trip through the Carolinas this Saturday, August 15, as it visits North Carolina FC for the second time this season. The contest comes off the back of a dramatic 1-1 draw against the Charlotte Independence, a match that saw the Black and Gold drop to 10-men and saw goalkeeper Matt VanOekel play a crucial part in defender Mikey Lopez’s equalizing goal.
North Carolina handed Birmingham its only defeat of the season the first time these two sides met in Group G action, beating Tom Soehn’s side 1-0 back on August 1, but the home team had the advantage of playing against ten men for 60 minutes that night too. Since then, both sides have remained unbeaten. NCFC collected another 1-0 win over Memphis 901 FC, while BHM recorded both a victory and a draw against the Charlotte Independence, as well as a victory over Atlanta United 2.
Robbie Kristo, Marios Lomis, and Dre Fortune remain the biggest threats for the Legion FC backline, with Fortune scoring the winning goal in the first meeting between the two. Meanwhile, both fullbacks, DJ Taylor and former BHM defender Akeem Ward, are central figures in build up and going forward in the attack. Ward’s quality goal against Memphis, the first of his career, earned him USL Team of the Week honors this week, joining Legion FC’s Jonny Dean and Neco Brett on the list. Additionally, NCFC ‘keeper Alex Timbakis comes into the match with confidence after earning his second clean-sheet of the year and making the bench for that same TOTW.
Legion FC will be without midfielder Anderson Asiedu after he was shown a red card in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Charlotte. Fortunately, midfielder/defender Bolu Akinyode will be available to step into that holding midfield role usually occupied by Asiedu. Akinyode received a harsh red card the last time BHM played NCFC, so he will look to make a bigger impact and remain on the pitch for all 90 minutes. Going forward, it is the likes of midfielder Bruno Lapa and forwards Brian Wright and Neco Brett who will be itching to add to their respective goal tallies and extend Birmingham’s lead at the top.
The biggest difference between the two clubs heading into Saturday will be either side’s fitness. Legion FC has played three matches since its loss to North Carolina FC, and this will be the team’s fifth match in those 15 days, while the latter has only played once. Rotation has become vital for Coach Soehn and Assistant Coach Khano Smith, with the duo having to field different lineups in each match since dropping points the last time they visited Cary, NC.
Every game against a team in Group G will be important this season, as the top two teams from the group advance to the 2020 playoffs, and North Carolina currently sits in second place in Group G, seven points behind Birmingham but with three games in hand. A win for the Black and Gold would see them jump to a commanding 10-point lead at the top, and would be doubly valuable against the other team in the group that made the playoffs last season and expects to get back there this year.
Questions regarding Legion FC’s ability to cope with such a condensed fixture list remain. However, Tom Soehn’s side has found answers to every single one of those questions so far, and with Saturday’s contest pivotal to Group G standings, expect them to answer those questions once again.
Defenders Razak Cromwell and Mathieu Laurent will be unavailable for the match, per the VIVA Health injury report.
For live match updates, follow @bhmlegion on Twitter, or tune in as the match will air live on My68 and ESPN+.
The squad is back at BBVA Field, after a deserved full week of rest, next Saturday, August 22 at 6:30PM versus rivals Memphis 901 FC. Get tickets at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/bhmlegion/tickets, by emailing tickets@https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/bhmlegion, or by calling the Legion FC Ticket Office at 205-791-7145.
MATCH INFO:
Birmingham Legion FC at North Carolina FC
Saturday, August 15 – 6:00 PM CT
WakeMed Soccer Park – Cary, NC
Watch – My68, ESPN+
Legion FC finishes its two-game road trip through the Carolinas this Saturday, August 15, as it visits North Carolina FC for the second time this season. The contest comes off the back of a dramatic 1-1 draw against the Charlotte Independence, a match that saw the Black and Gold drop to 10-men and saw goalkeeper Matt VanOekel play a crucial part in defender Mikey Lopez’s equalizing goal.
North Carolina handed Birmingham its only defeat of the season the first time these two sides met in Group G action, beating Tom Soehn’s side 1-0 back on August 1, but the home team had the advantage of playing against ten men for 60 minutes that night too. Since then, both sides have remained unbeaten. NCFC collected another 1-0 win over Memphis 901 FC, while BHM recorded both a victory and a draw against the Charlotte Independence, as well as a victory over Atlanta United 2.
Robbie Kristo, Marios Lomis, and Dre Fortune remain the biggest threats for the Legion FC backline, with Fortune scoring the winning goal in the first meeting between the two. Meanwhile, both fullbacks, DJ Taylor and former BHM defender Akeem Ward, are central figures in build up and going forward in the attack. Ward’s quality goal against Memphis, the first of his career, earned him USL Team of the Week honors this week, joining Legion FC’s Jonny Dean and Neco Brett on the list. Additionally, NCFC ‘keeper Alex Timbakis comes into the match with confidence after earning his second clean-sheet of the year and making the bench for that same TOTW.
Legion FC will be without midfielder Anderson Asiedu after he was shown a red card in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Charlotte. Fortunately, midfielder/defender Bolu Akinyode will be available to step into that holding midfield role usually occupied by Asiedu. Akinyode received a harsh red card the last time BHM played NCFC, so he will look to make a bigger impact and remain on the pitch for all 90 minutes. Going forward, it is the likes of midfielder Bruno Lapa and forwards Brian Wright and Neco Brett who will be itching to add to their respective goal tallies and extend Birmingham’s lead at the top.
The biggest difference between the two clubs heading into Saturday will be either side’s fitness. Legion FC has played three matches since its loss to North Carolina FC, and this will be the team’s fifth match in those 15 days, while the latter has only played once. Rotation has become vital for Coach Soehn and Assistant Coach Khano Smith, with the duo having to field different lineups in each match since dropping points the last time they visited Cary, NC.
Every game against a team in Group G will be important this season, as the top two teams from the group advance to the 2020 playoffs, and North Carolina currently sits in second place in Group G, seven points behind Birmingham but with three games in hand. A win for the Black and Gold would see them jump to a commanding 10-point lead at the top, and would be doubly valuable against the other team in the group that made the playoffs last season and expects to get back there this year.
Questions regarding Legion FC’s ability to cope with such a condensed fixture list remain. However, Tom Soehn’s side has found answers to every single one of those questions so far, and with Saturday’s contest pivotal to Group G standings, expect them to answer those questions once again.
Defenders Razak Cromwell and Mathieu Laurent will be unavailable for the match, per the VIVA Health injury report.
For live match updates, follow @bhmlegion on Twitter, or tune in as the match will air live on My68 and ESPN+.
The squad is back at BBVA Field, after a deserved full week of rest, next Saturday, August 22 at 6:30PM versus rivals Memphis 901 FC. Get tickets at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/bhmlegion/tickets, by emailing tickets@https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/bhmlegion, or by calling the Legion FC Ticket Office at 205-791-7145.
