Charlotte Independence v Birmingham Legion FC: Match Preview
August 4, 2020 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charlotte Independence News Release
CHARLOTTE - The Charlotte Independence face Birmingham Legion FC at BBVA Compass Field on Wednesday, August 5th at 8:00 p.m. ET and broadcast live on ESPN+. The meeting will be one of four matchups this season for the Group G opponents.
"Birmingham have gotten off to a good start through their pressure and ability to counter and get forward quickly," said Independence Manager Mike Jeffries. "We will have to establish a rhythm and play through their defensive pressure."
The Independence currently sit in third place in the Group G standings after earning four points in their opening two matches of the 2020 USL Championship season. Six different Jacks have tallied a goal or an assist while goalkeeper Brandon Miller ranks fourth in the Eastern Conference in saves (12).
For the first time this season, Birmingham dropped points and failed to score in a 1-0 defeat on the road against North Carolina FC last Saturday night. Despite the loss, Legion FC currently sit in first place in the Group G standings. With seven points in four games, Tommy Soehn's side have only conceded three times and boast a +3 goal differential.
"Birmingham posses a lot of dynamic attacking options with the ability to get behind defenses," continued Jeffries. "Defensively, they do an excellent job of pressing and will be a challenge for us to play through."
LAST TIME THEY MET: Charlotte Independence and Birmingham Legion FC last faced off in the 2019 USL Championship season on Saturday, July 27th at BBVA Compass Field in Birmingham, Alabama. A lone goal in the first half by Columbus Crew loanee JJ Williams powered the hosts to a 1-0 win over the Jacks.
LAST MATCH: The Charlotte Independence earned a hard-fought point on the road against Memphis 901 FC, 2-2, to remain in second place in the Group G standings (at that current time). Goals in the second half by midfielders Luke Haakenson and Valentin Sabella helped the Jacks reach four points in their first two matches.
2020 CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE USL CHAMPIONSHIP ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS: Lucas Hatsios, Brandon Miller, Austin Pack
DEFENDERS: Owen Barber, Clay Dimick, Shalom Dutey, Duke Lacroix, Aaron Maund, Dylan Mitchiner, Joel Johnson, Rey Ortiz, Hugh Roberts, Joey Skinner
MIDFIELDERS: Jake Areman, Junior Etou, Derek Gebhard, Kevan George, Luke Haakenson, Valentin Sabella, Oscar Ramsay
FORWARDS: Enzo Martinez, Tresor Mbuyu, Dane Kelly, Guido Valada
2020 BIRMINGHAM LEGION FC USL CHAMPIONSHIP ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS: Ford Parker, Trevor Spangenberg, Matt Vanoekel
DEFENDERS: Alex Crognale, Razak Cromwell, Jonathan Dean, Mathieu Laurent, Jake Rufe
MIDFIELDERS: Boluwatife Akinyode, Anderson Asiedu, Eli Crognale, Daigo Kobayashi, Bruno Lapa, Mikey Lopez, Braxton Najib, Jaden Servania, Marcos Ugarte
FORWARDS: Neco Brett, Propser Kasim, Rudolf Mensah, Brian Wright
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
- Four players have scored for the Independence in the 2020 USL Championship: Derek Gebhard, Luke Haakenson, Dane Kelly, Valentin Sabella (1)
- Two players have recorded at least one assist for the Independence this year: Martinez, Jake Areman (1)
- Independence forward Dane Kelly can reach 12,500 regular-season minutes if he plays 53 minutes in Wednesday's match against Birmingham Legion FC. At 12, 447 minutes, the Jamaica native can become the 14th player in USL Championship history to record at least 12,500 minutes.
- Independence defender Joel Johnson reached 10,000 regular-season minutes in Wednesday's match against Legion FC.
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