Coming into the game as the underdog, no. 7 Legion FC could not get the better of no. 3 Charleston
Mount Pleasant, SC (October 28, 2023) – Birmingham Legion FC fell to the Charleston Battery on Saturday night in the USL Championship Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, concluding the club’s 2023 season. An exciting game that saw Charleston score first and Birmingham equalize right before halftime, Charleston won the game with a second half goal.
After earning a franchise-first playoff victory over the Tampa Bay Rowdies last week, Birmingham came to Charleston hoping to add more to its historical season.
Charleston controlled the beginning of the game, and its efforts were answered when Emelio Ycaza scored the opener in the 17th minute from a corner kick.
After the Battery scored, Legion FC took control of the game. And with its newfound possession of the ball, Birmingham answered with an equalizer right before the halftime whistle in the 41st minute. Tyler Pasher received the ball off a deflection in the box and instinctively crossed it over to Kasim at the far post who headed it in. Kasim, a club legend scouted by Head Coach Tommy Soehn, has been with Legion since its inaugural 2019 season and scored the club’s first-ever goal, home goal, and goal against an MLS opponent.
Both sides ended at halftime 1-1. Play would remain locked until the 68th minute, when the Battery found its game-winning goal. With the ball bouncing around in Birmingham’s penalty area, Derek Dodson got the last touch off of a deflection from Enzo Martinez. Legion could not equalize, despite fighting until the very end to do so. Charleston will now go on to host Louisville FC in the Eastern Conference Final.
“I’m proud of the guys,” said Head Coach Soehn on tonight’s performance. “I’m proud of how they played given the cards they were dealt. The field tonight was in poor condition. We played well in Tampa, who had better field conditions. But, overall, I thought we played well. We fought until the end and I’m proud of the guys.”
Season Recap
The 2023 season was a very historical one for Birmingham Legion FC. In its fifth season as a soccer club, the Black & Gold went on a historical Open Cup run that saw it defeat its first MLS opponent in Charlotte FC and draw a crowd of over 18,000 fans to Protective Stadium in the semi-final game against Inter Miami.
This same team also won the club’s first playoff game, a 3-0 victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USLC Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals. After having exited two post-seasons to the Rowdies in two different years, the win meant a lot for the club.
“I’m disappointed we didn’t have Pasher more [this season],” said Soehn.
Tyler Pasher always made a big impacts in games he played but was out injured for most of the season. Pasher, Juan Agudelo, Martinez, and Preston Tabort Etaka played exceptionally well together in Tampa, which Birmingham unfortunately did not get to see much of in 2023.
“I wish the group that played in Tampa had more time to play together,” Soehn continued.
Another season highlight, Birmingham produced a national player in youngster Matthew Corcoran, who now goes on to represent the United States in the U17 World Cup.
“Matthew is very mature and plays beyond his years,” said Soehn. “Birmingham does a great job at developing and fostering young players but all credit goes to Corcoran.”
Match Details
| Box Score | 1st Half | 2nd Half |
| Charleston | 1 | 1 |
| Birmingham | 1 | 0 |
Goals:
CHS – 17′ – #8 Emilio Ycaza (assisted by #11 Fidel Barajas)
BHM – 41′ – #10 Prosper Kasim (assisted by #15 Tyler Pasher)
CHS – 68′ – #14 Derek Dodson
Starting XI:
BHM – 4-1-4-1 – #1 Matt VanOekel; #13 Jake Rufe (86′ – #23 Grayson Dupont), #33 Moses Mensah, #21 Alex Crognale, #4 Collin Smith; #19 Enzo Martinez (c); #10 Prosper Kasim (82′ – #16 Gabriel Alves), #15 Tyler Pasher, #9 Juan Agudelo, #7 Diba Nwegbo (66′ – #5 Mikey Lopez); #28 Preston Tabort Etaka (66′ – #11 Neco Brett)
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