MATCH INFO:
Detroit City FC vs Birmingham Legion FC
Saturday, May 27
7:00pm CT Kickoff
Keyworth Stadium – Hamtramck, MI
Watch – My68 & ESPN+
Birmingham Legion FC returns to league play this Saturday, as the team travels to Michigan to take on Detroit City FC. The Black & Gold come into the match on a quick turnaround, having beaten MLS side Charlotte FC in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Round of 16 on Wednesday, May 24.
Birmingham’s Prosper Kasim scored the sole goal in the 1-0 upset against Charlotte. Kasim and his teammates will likely see some heavy rotation in Saturday’s game for different Legion players due to the short rest.
Enzo Martinez leads the Black & Gold as its main attacking output. Martinez has six goals and three assists in all competitions. Followed by him is Juan Agudelo with five goals. Tyler Pasher has three goals and two assists and remains one of the best dribblers in the League, drawing a Charlotte defender to get two yellow cards midweek dragging Pasher down. Kasim leads the squad in assists with five in all competitions, while his four assists in league play are tied for first in the USL.
Defensively, goalkeepers Trevor Spangenberg and Matt VanOekel have been switching out between the posts, while center backs Phanuel Kavita and Alex Crognale are the backbone of Birmingham’s defense.
Legion FC sits in 5th place in the USL Championship Eastern Conference standings with 16 points in 12 matches played, while Detroit City FC is in 12th place with eight points in 11 matches. Detroit City won the last USL Championship meeting between the teams, coming out on top 2-1 at Protective Stadium last season. Connor Rutz struck first for Detroit City FC in the 66th minute. Matt Lewis also found the net. Prosper Kasim scored the only goal for Birmingham Legion in the 68th minute.
Opponent Info:
Detroit City FC: 2W – 7L – 2D / 6 Goals Scored – 13 Goals Allowed / 8 Points / 12th in USLC Eastern Conference
Head to Head:
Birmingham – 0 – 0 – 2 – Detroit
FiveThirtyEight Prediction
Detroit: 37%
Birmingham: 34%
Draw: 29%
Detroit City has had an underwhelming start to this year, but the Michigan side showed promise in its last outing. Primarily a defensive team in its year-plus in the USL Championship, Detroit pulled a major upset against defending league champs San Antonio FC last time out, winning 1-0 at home against the Western Conference side on May 20 for its first league win in two months.
DCFC’s six goals scored is fewest in the league, and its 13 goals allowed is tied for 12th most. The attack is led by Abdoulaye Diop’s two goals, Maxi Rodriguez’s and Yazeed Matthews’ 11 shots, and Skage Lehland’s 10 chances created. Goalkeeper Nathan Steinwascher is one of the league’s best, and has two cleansheets and 35 saves this year, but also added in a long assist on the game-winner over SAFC.
Legion FC will look for its first ever win over Detroit, in the clubs’ third matchup, without the services of forward Neco Brett (hamstring), and defender Alex Crognale (contusion) who are both listed as OUT on this week’s UAB Medicine Injury Report.
The Magic City’s finest will return to Birmingham and finally get some time to recuperate before an historic match at Protective Stadium on Wednesday, June 7th in the US Open Cup Quarterfinals. David Beckham’s Inter Miami CF squad, from Major League Soccer, will come to town, and tickets and more information about the game will be made available early next week.
For all club news and updates fans are encouraged to follow @bhmlegion on social media and keep an eye on bhmlegion.com and the Legion FC app. Download the Legion FC app today on Apple or Android, and sync our 2023 schedule to your calendar HERE.
