| 2025 LAMAR HUNT US OPEN CUP | FIRST ROUND | 1ST HALF | 2ND HALF | FINAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIRMINGHAM LEGION FC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| LITTLE ROCK RANGERS | 0 | 1 | 1 |
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Birmingham Legion FC’s stay in the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup came to an end on Wednesday, following a 1-0 loss to the Little Rock Rangers in the first round of the competition.
The only goal of the match came at the beginning of the second half when Little Rock’s Caoimhin McConnell scored on a shot from the top of the box in the 48th minute.
Legion FC had a chance to grab an early lead after midfielder Roman Torres drew a penalty in the box in the 23rd minute, but the ensuing spot kick from forward Lucca Dourado was saved by Rangers goalkeeper Tomasz Wroblewski.
Birmingham finished the match with 64-percent of the possession and outshot the home side 13-7. However, it had a tough time breaking down the Little Rock low block with just three shots on target despite firing off nine shots inside the box.
Defender, and New England Revolution-loanee, Tiago Suarez got the start on the backline to make his Legion FC debut, while midfielder Finn Calloway made his season debut and his first career start.
With the defeat, Birmingham’s all-time record in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup falls to 7-5.
Match Details
LINEUPS
BHM: Delgado – GK, Suarez, Kos, Rufe, Turnbull (Mensah 46′), Calloway (McCartney 60′), Martinez – C, Ereku (Hamouda 71′), Torres (Hernandez-Foster 60′), Tabort Etaka, Dourado (Damus 60′)
LRR: Wroblewski – GK, Ichikawa, Gray, Ventura (Padilla 77′), Beltran – C, Coca (Crabtree 85′), Dube, McConnell, Stone, Burko, Blake (Jones 89′)
GOALS
BHM:
LRR: McConnell 48′
DISCIPLINE
BHM: Ereku (Yellow) 39′
LRR: Burko (Yellow) 44′
NEXT UP
Legion FC remains on the road and returns to USL Championship play at Detroit City FC this Saturday at 3:00 p.m. CT and then at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on March 29. The club is back home on Sunday, April 13 when it welcomes El Paso Locomotive FC to Protective Stadium. Tickets for that match can be purchased HERE.
