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USL Birmingham Legion FC

Last Minute Martinez Goal Sees Legion Take All Three Points at Hartford

July 30, 2022 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Birmingham Legion FC News Release


HARTFORD, CT Legion FC hit the road Saturday against Hartford Athletic, and as per usual, the road warriors delivered three points. Midfielder Enzo Martinez bagged a last-minute goal thanks to great offensive pressure from he and Marlon Santos to secure the hard-fought victory.

Not much happened in the first half of the game, with both sides trading attacks but not being able to find the back of the net. Birmingham's best early chance came in the 17th minute - forward Juan Agudelo got behind Harford's backline, beating defenders and finding midfielder Bruno Lapa in the box, but he could not get a shot off in time to capitalize.

The Magic City defense kept most of Harford's possession in their own half but had a few dangerous chances in the second half. Their best chance came in the 88th minute, when a quick turnover in Hartford's favor led to a shot to the bottom right corner that goalkeeper Matt VanOekel parried away with a diving save. Defensively, that was the story of the game. Birmingham's backline and VanOekel, who recorded six saves on the night, kept the hope alive that led to a last-minute win.

VanOekel's stellar performance tonight tallied up his career saves in the USL Championship to 300, making him the 9th player in USLC history to accomplish such a feat.

At the end of the match, the two sides looked as though they were going to split points. The Magic City squad had some magic in their pockets, though. In the first minute of extra time, thanks to excellent offensive pressure by forward Marlon Santos, Hartford's goalkeeper Yannik Oettl erroneously gave the ball away to Martinez, who drove the ball into the box and fired it past the 'keeper into the bottom right corner of the goal. And for the second time this season, the Three Sparks beat Hartford in extra time.

"It feels awesome," said Martinez. "To work hard all game and to leave with all three points is great. The staff did a good job of preparing us for this situation and showing us that we need to push even in the last minutes, and it paid off today.

"Honestly, I think everything we do starts with our willingness to defend. The best games we played are because of that. It really starts with our forwards. And the rest of the team does the same. The more selfless running we do the better the team plays."

Head Coach Tommy Soehn when asked about his team's performance on the night: "Well, by the end of a three-game stretch in a week, it's always difficult, especially when you have to travel, and I think it was just a very good professional performance. We didn't give them a whole lot, we spent some time defending as you would, but a lot of their possession was in their own half, which I was okay with. And I felt like late in the game, the longer it went tied, we were going to open things up and it's kind of been their forte. I think the subs we added late really helped for that matter. Bringing Marlon [Santos] and Mataeo [Bunbury] in gave us some pace, it caused trouble, and we ended up sneaking one. So just a really good, professional display from our group late after three games, so I'm really happy."

Box Score:

1st Half 2nd Half HFD 0 0 BHM 0 1

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

GOALS:

BHM - 90+1' - #19 Enzo Martinez

HFD - 4-4-2 - #13 Yannick Oettl; #2 Younes Boudadi, #3 Logan Gdula, #4 Tulu Yacoubu, #5 Tom Brewitt; #28 Conor McGlynn, #10 Danny Barrera ©, #77 Andre Lewis, #30 Joel Johnson (67' - #6 Ariel Martinez); #7 Prince Saydee (84' - Ashkanov Apollon), #9 Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. (60' - #18 Rashawn Dally)

BHM - 4-1-4-1 - #1 Matt VanOekel; #24 Jonny Dean, #21 Alex Crognale, #3 Phanuel Kavita ©, #5 Mikey Lopez; #20 Zach Herivaux; #7 Ryan James, #19 Enzo Martinez, #8 Bruno Lapa (59' - #6 Anderson Asiedu), #10 Prosper Kasim (59' - #11 Marlon Santos); #99 Juan Agudelo (73' - #47 Mataeo Bunbury)

The Three Sparks return to Protective Stadium on Saturday, August 6, to face Atlanta United 2 and kickoff has been pushed back thirty minutes to 7:00pm CT. Fans can grab tickets today!

Match Recap: Last Minute Martinez Goal Sees Legion Take All Three Points at Hartford

Goalkeeper Matt VanOekel also earned his ninth shutout of the season, tied for the most in the USL Championship, with six huge saves on the night

Head Coach Tommy Soehn

Legion one, Hartford, zero. At the end of a long week now on the road, what are your takeaways from that performance?

"Well, by the end of a three-game stretch in a week, it's always difficult, especially when you have to travel and I think it was just a very good professional performance. We didn't give them a whole lot, we spent some time defending as you would, but a lot of their possession was in their own half, which I was okay with. And I felt like late in the game, the longer it went tied, we were going to open things up and it's kind of been their forte. I think the subs we added late really helped for that matter. Bringing Marlon [Santos] and Mataeo [Bunbury] in gave us some pace, it caused trouble, and we ended up sneaking one. So just a really good professional display from our group late after three games, so I'm really happy."

You just touched on this a little bit, but you've got some depth to go off the bench now in Marlon, Anderson, and Mateo, and they have been pretty good options. What kind of impact are you looking for from your subs usually? And then how do you feel those guys played tonight?

"Well, I think today we knew the game would open up and pace is what's gonna help us at the end of that game. And I think it fell right as we thought it would, I thought Marlon and Mataeo added so much stretching and putting them on their heels. Having depth is always important, especially in long stretches."

Mikey [Lopez] and Ryan [James] have been switching out seemingly constantly since Jake's injury. Kind-of as a coaching staff, what are y'all looking for from each of those guys in that position? And what goes into the decision making process for when to rotate?

"Well, I think, every game you evaluate who you're up against what your tactics are and sometimes it benefits having Ryan there and sometimes it benefits Mikey, but it's situational. And I thought Ryan had a really good day as a midfielder today. I thought he brought a lot of energy and defended well, so it's a luxury having guys who can do multiple spots."

Speaking of Enzo now, a lot of time has been spent thinking about Enzo since we've entered the league. It's been a big gift this year, leading us in a lot of statistical categories. What's his impact been now leading us in goals too, but besides that, what's his impact been on the team being kind of a permanent fixture on the lineup sheet?

"With Enzo, it's lead by actions. He's not always the cleanest in scenarios, but he makes up for it and then some with his energy and his work ethic and it's contagious. When you see him doing that, people follow his lead. So, he's been instrumental in a lot of our wins"

Yeah, absolutely. Last thing, Hartford's a team known, they were mentioned on the broadcast known for giving up these late goals. Is that something y'all talk about, like when looking at future opponents, not even specific to Hartford, but do you think that kind of plays in the mindset of? The team on the field, knowing when the game is still up for grabs, and as you get into a late game situation, and same thing when it's a team that doesn't give up goals, do you think that plays on people's minds?

"I mean we watch a lot of video and you can't hide the truth. They keep giving up goals late and the guys do it because we showed it to them. And we did it to them late again. So, had they not seen it, maybe, you know, maybe it builds confidence by showing, I'm not sure. I'd much rather be on this end than that end."

#19 Enzo Martinez

Brutal loss at Tulsa, ecstatic win at home Wednesday, then on the road again third game in a week, so how'd it feel to put in a shift and get a win late like that?"It feels awesome. To work hard all game and to leave with all three points is great. The staff did a good job of preparing us for this situation and showing us that we need to push even in the last minutes, and it paid off today."

Defensively the team seems to really have gelled. Hard to break down, everyone works their butts off. Is that something you take pride in even as an "attacking" player? Do you try to lead by example with your work rate defensively, leading the guys behind you?

"Honestly, I think everything we do starts with our willingness to defend. The best games we played are because of that. It really starts with our forwards. And the rest of the team does the same. The more selfless running we do the better the team plays."

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