MATCH INFO:
Birmingham Legion FC at Memphis 901 FC
Saturday, October 3 – 7:00 PM CT Kickoff
AutoZone Park – Memphis, TN
Watch – My68, ESPN+
Legion FC makes the short trip up to Tennessee this Saturday, October 3, to face off against rivals Memphis 901 FC for the final match of the regular season. A win would secure first place in Group G for Birmingham, and a home playoff game in next weekend’s first round of the 2020 USL Championship Playoffs.
Birmingham heads into the contest off the back of a disappointing 2-1 loss at home to North Carolina FC. Head Coach Tom Soehn and Assistant Coach Khano Smith’s biggest frustration with their players was that they came out slow and it took going down by two goals to really get into the flow of the match.
“I don’t know why we started so flat,” said Smith. “We’ll have to figure that out, why we just didn’t start well. I think we started growing into the game after we went down 2-0, and sometimes at this level that’s too late.”
"We've been talking about it all week," said Soehn. "Making sure out mentality is right and us controlling what we do [our playoff destiny]. That outweighs everything. We bounced back pretty well this week, I saw it in training, and it's a good time to learn from something."
Memphis 901 FC will welcome Legion FC to AutoZone Park with a high level of confidence after putting together a 3-1 win over the Charlotte Independence. The result was one that took some of the sting out of BHM’s home defeat to NCFC, because it meant Legion FC still controls its own destiny, but come Saturday, Memphis will not be looking to do its rival any more favors.
Despite already being eliminated from playoff contention, Memphis 901 FC will be looking to end the year on a positive note and give its fans something to cheer for on the final matchday of the season. The biggest proponent in doing so will be forward Cal Jennings. Jennings, Legion FC defender Jonny Dean's college teammate at UCF, has scored five goals for Memphis in his last three outings, with his brace at Charlotte earning him USL Championship Team of the Week honors.
In addition to Jennings, forwards Keanu Marsh-Brown and Brandon Allen provide further threat to the Birmingham backline. Marsh-Brown has a goal in each of his last two matches against the Black and Gold (both of which were from the penalty spot) and leads his side in chances created (12), while Allen is joint second in his side in goals scored (3) and chances created (11).
BHM has struggled a bit as of late, as the Magic City-based team has collected the least amount of points (4) in Group G over the course of the last five matches. The slip in form has not been enough to counter Legion FC’s fantastic start that saw them jump to the top of Group G, but it has raised questions over whether or not the club will enter the playoffs as the group winner. The Black and Gold’s ability to come out of the blocks firing will be a big part in doing so, as they will want to make sure that this weekend’s match with Memphis is not one in which they will have to chase.
Legion FC forward Neco Brett provides the clearest threat as the club’s leading goal scorer (9), while Bruno Lapa will look to wreak havoc in the middle of the park. The 23-year-old midfielder has directly involved himself in 11 goals (6 goals, 5 assists) over the course of the regular season, as well as found the back of the net in each of his side’s meetings Memphis 901 FC this season.
"Memphis is on a little bit of a run right now," said Legion FC forward JJ Williams. "They've been getting some results, but at the same time I think it's about us. This last game [vs. NCFC] we came in and just weren't ready. You could tell from the start we weren't up for it. Giving up two goals as early as we did, it's going to be hard for a lot of teams to come back from that. So, I think if we come in with the right mindset from the first whistle, it should be like the first time we played them this year. It should be goals and game over in the first half. As long as we come out and handle the things that we need to, and this week of preparation has been very good for us, and just making sure that mentally we're right, we're on the road so nothing is going to be easy, but at the same time, we're up for it."
Saturday’s contest not only pits two rivals against one another, but it will also see two sides on opposite ends of the spectrum. Legion FC as the side whose postseason outlook will be directly affected by the match’s result, and Memphis 901 FC as the side with nothing to lose who would love nothing more than to throw a wrench into the plans of its rival.
Defender Mathieu Laurent (torn ACL) will be unavailable for the match, per the VIVA Health injury report.
For live match updates, follow @bhmlegion on Twitter, and tune in as the match will air live on My68 and ESPN+.
If Legion FC wins, the result of the Charlotte v. North Carolina match on Saturday night is moot, and BHM takes first place in the group. If North Carolina ties or loses, Legion FC clinches a spot in the playoffs no matter what, but a Charlotte win paired with a Legion FC draw or loss would see Charlotte take the top spot and Legion FC take second and earn a road game in the first round.
Keep an eye on the Legion FC app, https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/bhmlegion and @bhmlegion on social media for updates and announcements regarding the playoff outlook and schedule for your Three Sparks.
MATCH INFO:
Birmingham Legion FC at Memphis 901 FC
Saturday, October 3 – 7:00 PM CT Kickoff
AutoZone Park – Memphis, TN
Watch – My68, ESPN+
Legion FC makes the short trip up to Tennessee this Saturday, October 3, to face off against rivals Memphis 901 FC for the final match of the regular season. A win would secure first place in Group G for Birmingham, and a home playoff game in next weekend’s first round of the 2020 USL Championship Playoffs.
Birmingham heads into the contest off the back of a disappointing 2-1 loss at home to North Carolina FC. Head Coach Tom Soehn and Assistant Coach Khano Smith’s biggest frustration with their players was that they came out slow and it took going down by two goals to really get into the flow of the match.
“I don’t know why we started so flat,” said Smith. “We’ll have to figure that out, why we just didn’t start well. I think we started growing into the game after we went down 2-0, and sometimes at this level that’s too late.”
“We’ve been talking about it all week,” said Soehn. “Making sure out mentality is right and us controlling what we do [our playoff destiny]. That outweighs everything. We bounced back pretty well this week, I saw it in training, and it’s a good time to learn from something.”
Memphis 901 FC will welcome Legion FC to AutoZone Park with a high level of confidence after putting together a 3-1 win over the Charlotte Independence. The result was one that took some of the sting out of BHM’s home defeat to NCFC, because it meant Legion FC still controls its own destiny, but come Saturday, Memphis will not be looking to do its rival any more favors.
Despite already being eliminated from playoff contention, Memphis 901 FC will be looking to end the year on a positive note and give its fans something to cheer for on the final matchday of the season. The biggest proponent in doing so will be forward Cal Jennings. Jennings, Legion FC defender Jonny Dean’s college teammate at UCF, has scored five goals for Memphis in his last three outings, with his brace at Charlotte earning him USL Championship Team of the Week honors.
In addition to Jennings, forwards Keanu Marsh-Brown and Brandon Allen provide further threat to the Birmingham backline. Marsh-Brown has a goal in each of his last two matches against the Black and Gold (both of which were from the penalty spot) and leads his side in chances created (12), while Allen is joint second in his side in goals scored (3) and chances created (11).
BHM has struggled a bit as of late, as the Magic City-based team has collected the least amount of points (4) in Group G over the course of the last five matches. The slip in form has not been enough to counter Legion FC’s fantastic start that saw them jump to the top of Group G, but it has raised questions over whether or not the club will enter the playoffs as the group winner. The Black and Gold’s ability to come out of the blocks firing will be a big part in doing so, as they will want to make sure that this weekend’s match with Memphis is not one in which they will have to chase.
Legion FC forward Neco Brett provides the clearest threat as the club’s leading goal scorer (9), while Bruno Lapa will look to wreak havoc in the middle of the park. The 23-year-old midfielder has directly involved himself in 11 goals (6 goals, 5 assists) over the course of the regular season, as well as found the back of the net in each of his side’s meetings Memphis 901 FC this season.
“Memphis is on a little bit of a run right now,” said Legion FC forward JJ Williams. “They’ve been getting some results, but at the same time I think it’s about us. This last game [vs. NCFC] we came in and just weren’t ready. You could tell from the start we weren’t up for it. Giving up two goals as early as we did, it’s going to be hard for a lot of teams to come back from that. So, I think if we come in with the right mindset from the first whistle, it should be like the first time we played them this year. It should be goals and game over in the first half. As long as we come out and handle the things that we need to, and this week of preparation has been very good for us, and just making sure that mentally we’re right, we’re on the road so nothing is going to be easy, but at the same time, we’re up for it.”
Saturday’s contest not only pits two rivals against one another, but it will also see two sides on opposite ends of the spectrum. Legion FC as the side whose postseason outlook will be directly affected by the match’s result, and Memphis 901 FC as the side with nothing to lose who would love nothing more than to throw a wrench into the plans of its rival.
Defender Mathieu Laurent (torn ACL) will be unavailable for the match, per the VIVA Health injury report.
For live match updates, follow @bhmlegion on Twitter, and tune in as the match will air live on My68 and ESPN+.
If Legion FC wins, the result of the Charlotte v. North Carolina match on Saturday night is moot, and BHM takes first place in the group. If North Carolina ties or loses, Legion FC clinches a spot in the playoffs no matter what, but a Charlotte win paired with a Legion FC draw or loss would see Charlotte take the top spot and Legion FC take second and earn a road game in the first round.
Keep an eye on the Legion FC app, https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/bhmlegion and @bhmlegion on social media for updates and announcements regarding the playoff outlook and schedule for your Three Sparks.
