Legion FC Beats Tulsa, Reclaims Top Spot in Central Division
June 6, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Birmingham Legion FC News Release
BIRMINGHAM, AL - Birmingham Legion FC outlasts FC Tulsa, scoring once in the first half and once in the second, after a three and a half hour weather delay, to win the contest 2-1. Birmingham forward Neco Brett scored both goals, with assists from JJ Williams and Junior Flemmings, to earn all three points for his side, and move Legion up to first place in the USL Championship's Central Division.
Legion FC came out of the gates on the front foot, peppering Tulsa's goal with nine first half shots, with Brett's goal coming in the 30th minute. Goalkeeper Matt VanOekel played a long ball up the left sideline, and after a bit of a shanked clearance from a Tulsa defender, Williams jumped onto the loose ball, and played a pinpoint cross across the top of the box to the onrushing Brett. The Jamaican took a touch to set himself up and buried the ball into the back of the net.
Lightning in the area forced the game to be postponed in the 58th minute, and both teams and the Legion faithful had to wait out the long delay but played resumed at 8:50PM with the home side looking to hold on for the victory. Forward Junior Flemmings subbed on at the restart, and made a big impact, as he got on the ball in the Tulsa half, drove forward, and split two defenders with a pass to Brett into the box, before Brett bagged his second goal of the evening.
"Coming out and getting a good start was important after that long, lengthy delay," said Legion FC Assistant Coach Khano Smith. "I think the guys were locked in, they warmed up well, but I think tactically Tulsa caused us problems and tonight winning this game wasn't gonna be about who was the prettier soccer team. It was about knuckling down and grinding out the result, so I think the guys did that and credit to everyone that helped off the field. We had owners, front office people, fans staying to cheer us on - it was a real community and club victory because that belongs to everybody. I mean, where do you see owners and front office people out on the field squeegeeing the field, so that had as much a part to play as the guys on the field because without that we would have never played."
The second goal proved to be the game-winner, as the visitors ended Birmingham's shutout streak at 272 minutes with a goal in the 83rd from the head of forward Dario Suarez off a swung in cross from #10 Marlon. VanOekel made an outstanding save, going full extension to the top corner, to deny Suarez the equalizer via a Tulsa freekick from the top of the box a few minutes later and secure the three points for BHM.
Williams and Smith when asked about the team scoring twice in a game for the first time this season:
"It feels good," said Williams. I think we are starting to grow a lot as a team. You know, when you bring in so many weapons, you're always wondering about how that's going to gel, and I feel like we've gelled well, I just think that final product is starting to come together a little better. We have a lot of firepower, but in games like this it could go either way as you push forward to try and get a third, try and get a fourth, they could pounce on you and it go the other direction."
"I think it still could get a lot better," said Smith. "You can still see the connection and gelling is not quite there with all of them, but they'll get there. Guys have been in and out, Bruno goes off the field, Prosper was injured, Junior was suspended. It's just been a whirlwind of guys changing in and out. Jaden is on international duty as well. We just haven't really found a consistency but when we get two goals in a game without them, we'll take it."
Box Score:
1st Half 2nd Half
BHM 1 1
TUL 0 1
Goals:
BHM - 30' - #11 Neco Brett (assisted by #23 JJ Williams) VIDEO
BHM - 75' - #11 Neco Brett (assisted by #77 Junior Flemmings) VIDEO
TUL - 83' - #92 Dario Suarez (assisted by #10 Marlon)
Starting Lineups:
BHM - 3-5-2 - #1 Matt VanOekel; #22 Ben Ofeimu (78' - #16 Daigo Kobayashi), #21 Alex Crognale, #3 Phanuel Kavita ©; #24 Jonny Dean, #6 Anderson Asiedu, #8 Bruno Lapa (58' - #77 Junior Flemmings), #20 Zach Herivaux (58' - #12 Eli Crognale), #7 Ryan James; #23 JJ Williams, #11 Neco Brett
TUL - 4-2-3-1 - #1 Sean Lewis; #5 Leo Folla, #22 Bradley Bourgeois ©, #2 Kevin Garcia, #13 Matt Sheldon (82' - #20 Ciaron Winters); #21 Kembo Kibato, #44 Eric Bird (71' - #7 Stanley Oganbor); #92 Dario Suarez, #16 Rodrigo da Costa; #10 Marlon, #9 Jerome Kiesewetter
Legion FC hits the road next weekend for a two-game trip starting with a contest at OKC Energy FC on Saturday, June 12 at 7:30PM CT, and then heads to Kentucky for a rematch with LouCity on Wednesday, June 16 at 6:30PM CT. Catch both matches locally on My68 and nationally on ESPN+.
The squad returns home on Saturday, June 19 to take on Austin Bold FC at 6:30PM! Tickets are available by contacting the Legion FC Ticket Office at 205-600-4635 or tickets@bhmlegion.com.
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