Neco Brett shined with a goal-of-the-season bicycle kick, but a late-game sealer from the Switchbacks gave the hosts the win
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO (August 4, 2023) – After 90 minutes of play against the Colorado Springs Switchbacks, the score ended 2-1 in favor of the hosts. Colorado led 1-0 at halftime, Legion equalized in the 58th minute, and then the Switchbacks scored in the 82nd minute to take all three points.
“We kind of fell into their trap,” said Head Coach Tommy Soehn. “I think they sat really deep in their little block and just looked at counter, so we made some adjustments second half, and I think we started to really pull them apart and created the opportunity to score. And then after we scored, I thought we again kind of shelled up a little bit and let them back in the game.”
Colorado took the lead early into the match, scoring in the 11th minute off of a quick counter-attack on a Birmingham turnover. With quick, one-touch passing the Switchbacks broke in behind the Black & Gold’s defense and Deshane Beckford was one-on-one with goalkeeper Matt VanOekel.
At the start of the second half whistle, the score was 1-0 and Birmingham were fighting to get back into it. In the 58th minute, the visitors found its answer in Neco Brett.
Whipped in by Enzo Martinez, a cross was cleared out by a Colorado defender. Running towards the ball near the edge of the 18-yard box was Legion FC’s all-time leading goalscorer, who athletically dropped his shoulders and delivered a world-class bicycle kick that equalized the game. Brett’s goal was his 31st in a Legion shirt.
In the 84th minute the Switchbacks found its game-winner. Holding the ball on the right side of Legion’s penalty box, the hosts sent a ball across to the far post that Juan Tejada was ready to get on the end of.
“Winning and losing, I always say, is a habit,” said Soehn. “And you make a habit of making one mistake and getting punished, and when things are going well, you’re forcing them to make the mistakes. And when you’re not, you’re making the mistake and they’re punishing you. And that’s exactly what happened. So it really came out of a nothing play where the ball was in the air we had two times we could have cleared it, and in the end, we gave it over the other team.”
Box Score:
| 1st Half | 2nd Half | |
| Colorado Springs | 1 | 1 |
| Birmingham | 0 | 1 |
Goals:
COS – 11’ – #11 Deshane Beckford (assisted by #9 Romario Williams)
BHM – 58’ – #11 Neco Brett
COS – 84’ – #27 Juan Tejada (assisted by #7 Tyreek Magee)
Starting XI:
BHM – 4-3-2-1 – #1 Matt VanOekel; #3 Phanuel Kavita, #16 Gabriel Alves, #21 Alex Crognale, #13 Jake Rufe; #6 Anderson Asiedu, #17 Matthew Corcoran (86′ – #96 Tyler Freeman), #19 Enzo Martinez; #10 Prosper Kasim (81′ – #7 Diba Nwegbo), #9 Juan Agudelo; #11 Neco Brett
Legion FC are on the road again this Wednesday, August 9 to take on Indy Eleven. Fans can tune into the match on My68 and ESPN+ to cheer on their Iron City Legionnaires!
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.
