MATCH INFO:
Birmingham Legion FC vs. Memphis 901 FC
Wednesday, September 20
7:00 pm CT Kickoff
Protective Stadium – Birmingham, AL
Watch – My68 & ESPN+
Get Tickets HERE
Birmingham Legion FC (7th) returns to Protective Stadium on Wednesday, September 20 for the Southern Harm Derby against its rivals Memphis 901 FC (5th). Coming off of a quick turnaround after losing 1-0 against Rio Grande Valley FC in Texas on Sunday, the Black & Gold look for a win against its arch-rivals to bring some much-needed energy to the last stretch of the season.
Brief History of the Legion FC and Memphis 901 Rivalry
The rivalry between Memphis and Birmingham is arguably one of the most deep-rooted and intense rivalries in the USL Championship. Starting between UAB and the University of Memphis in American Football in the late 1990s, Birmingham has had a long-standing sports rivalry with teams from Memphis, Tennessee.
The feud between the two cities, however light-hearted it may seem, ultimately stems from a disagreement over how to cook baby back ribs. Memphis proudly specializes in dry-rub barbecue, while Birmingham is home to sauce-based barbecue dishes. This disagreement is the reason for the UAB vs Memphis “Battle For the Bones,” where the winner takes home the bronze rack of ribs trophy.
The rivalry between Birmingham and Memphis has extended into the USL Championship with Birmingham Legion and Memphis 910 FC respectively. It is dubbed the “Southern Harm” derby and took unprecedented heights in 2019/20 when Birmingham City FC fans from England found Birmingham Legion FC and instigated the rivalry further over social media.
Legion FC’s Form
Birmingham Legion comes into Wednesday’s game fresh off of an away loss against Rio Grande Valley. In its last five, the Black & Gold are on two wins and three losses in its last five matches played. Legion’s top goalscorer is Neco Brett, with 11 goals, followed by Enzo Martinez with 10 goals. Martinez also leads the team in assists (six).
Offensively, Birmingham is 11th in the League in goals (39). On paper, its offense is one of the best but had a hard time scoring last time out against RGV Toros. Defensively, the team has let in a lot of goals this year (48). The team is fourth in the league in most goals conceded. Legion FC will look for a confident victory against its rivals, last doing so in the U.S. Open Cup when Birmingham bested Memphis 3-0 at home.
Opponent Info
Memphis 901 FC: 12W – 8L – 9D / 39 Goals Scored – 48 Goals Allowed / 39 Points / 5th in USLC Eastern Conference
Memphis sits six points ahead of Legion FC in 5th place. Its top goalscorer this season is Rodrigo da Costa with 11 goals in 31 appearances. Followed by him is Luiz Fernando with seven goals in 23 appearances.
Legion fans will see a familiar face in a Memphis 901 shirt on Wednesday. Former Legionnaire Bruno Lapa has played 24 games for Memphis and has four goals and three assists.
To keep up to date on all things Legion FC, 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.
