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Legion FC Match Preview

June 7, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) - Birmingham Legion FC News Release

MATCH INFO:

Birmingham Legion FC at Charleston Battery

Saturday, June 8 - 6:30PM CT Kickoff - MUSC Health Stadium, Charleston, SC

Watch - My68, ESPN+

Legion FC is back on the road this weekend as it takes on the Charleston Battery on Saturday, June 8 at 6:30PM CT. The boys will look to regroup and rebound from a loss in the league last weekend versus the league-leading Tampa Bay Rowdies. BHM's tough run of games does not get any easier, with CHS being the sixth team above the playoff line of the last seven opponents.

After playing two games a week for most of May, Assistant Coach Khano Smith said the squad have looked to capitalize on the opportunity for some rest and extra training ahead of this road trip. Smith said, "when you do have games twice a week you're just always preparing for the next game, so it's hard to do stuff on the training field because you can't push the players to get the distance. All you're doing is recovering and getting ready for the next game, so you can't get in any real work."

"We've been preparing for Charleston this week - traditionally, historically always a good team in this league, always makes the playoffs. So, it's going to be another tough one on Saturday, but we feel like we're getting guys back from injury so competition for places is getting more intense and that's always good."

"Charleston work hard, and they work together. I think they have real good team chemistry. Obviously, the coach has been there a while, and he knows what he likes and what works. He recruits the types of players that fit the way he likes to play, and you can see that they all buy in. We need to collectively narrow in on what we need to do to beat them, take away their strengths, and expose their weaknesses."

The Charleston Battery started the 2019 USL Championship season on a good run of form, winning three of their first six matches and only losing one of their first nine. Despite the form tailing off a bit recently, Charleston still sit above the playoff line in ninth place in the Eastern Conference.

The Battery are led in the attack by #11 Zeiko Lewis, whose 25 shots and 22 chances created are good for 19th and 13th best in the league, while his four goals on the season lead the team. Goalkeeper Joe Kuzminsky is also an anchor at the back, and his 29 saves are third-best in the East.

Mike Anhaeuser is the Battery Head Coach and has been in that role since 2005, after playing for the Battery from 1994-1999 and serving as an assistant coach from 1999-2004. As head coach, he's won two USL Cups, been named league Coach of the Year once, and made a U.S. Open Cup final.

#3 Kyle Fisher (hamstring) and #27 Eddie Opoku (ankle) are both out, as per the VIVA Health injury report. #11 JJ Williams has been recalled to MLS by the Columbus Crew, and #21 Zach Herivaux has joined the Haitian National Team on an international call-up ahead of this summer's Gold Cup.

Follow @bhmlegion on Twitter for more info and live game updates from South Carolina, and watch live on My68 or ESPN+.

Legion FC heads back to the Carolinas next weekend to face the Charlotte Independence on Saturday, June 15 at 6:00PM CT. The next home match at BBVA Compass Field is on Saturday, June 22 as BHM takes on Hartford Athletic. Tickets are available at bhmlegion.com/tickets or by calling the Legion FC Ticket Office at 205-600-4635.

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