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USL Birmingham Legion FC

Legion FC Rolls, Sets Club-Record in 6-0 Win over SKC II

October 24, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Birmingham Legion FC News Release


BIRMINGHAM, AL - Legion FC knew the pressure was back on after Central Division foe Louisville City FC beat Memphis Saturday night to move one point ahead of Birmingham in the standings. Well, the team rose to the occasion in record fashion by running riot over Sporting Kansas City II on Sunday afternoon to the tune of a 6-0 victory thanks to goals from Zach Herivaux, Bruno Lapa, Neco Brett, Lapa again, Junior Flemmings, and Prosper Kasim.

Herivaux got the party started early on in the 5th minute when he was played into the box by Flemmings before slotting a pass over to Lapa. Lapa's shot hit off the post, and while Herivaux was behind the last defender, the ball came back out and was headed backwards by a defender to Herivaux, negating his offside position, before the Haitian international then calmly chested the ball down and scored.

The goal was Herivaux's first of the season, and first for Legion FC since he scored in the team's playoff game win over North Carolina FC in October 2019.

"It was exciting to get back on the scoresheet in this type of manner and to get a convincing result late in the season," said Herivaux. "It helps our confidence, it helps the fans get excited, and it just puts us in a great position for next weekend against Louisville. I'm just excited about the performance that the guys put out."

Lapa got his first of the night next, in the 18th minute to make it 2-0. Left back Ryan James aimed a Legion FC throw in at Brett in the SKC box, and Brett laid the ball off to Lapa who fired it in off the half-volley.

Those two names popped back up on the scoresheet again in quick succession towards the end of the first half, with Brett bagging his 18th goal of the season, tied for fourth-most in the USL Championship, in the 31st minute, and Lapa finishing his second of the evening and fifth of the season in the 39th.

For the third goal, Kasim got on the ball in midfield and played Lapa in behind. Lapa cut the ball across for Brett, and an SKC defender got a slight touch, but not enough to block the Jamaican from hitting the back of the net.

James and Kasim were then involved again in the team's fourth goal as Kasim played the ball out wide to James, who then found Lapa in the box. Lapa attempted the flick the ball over to Flemmings, and the pass was poked away by a defender, but then the Brazilian was first to react, pouncing on the loose ball and putting his first-time effort in past the left post.

Flemmings capped off a quality performance with a goal of his own, his sixth of the season, which is second-most on the team, in the 70th minute. Herivaux to Lapa to Kasim got Birmingham from its own box to its opponents, Kasim found the overlapping right back, Jonny Dean wide right, and Dean played the ball in to Flemmings, who took a touch, turned, and found the left side netting to make it 5-0.

Kasim closed it out by adding to his first half assist with a second half goal in the 76th minute. Pressure high up the field by James forced an SKC turnover, and the ball fell to Lapa. The midfielder turned and skipped the ball across the top of the box to Kasim, who put his first-time effort again into the left-hand side netting.

"It was good to get an early goal and set the tone for the rest of the game," said Assistant Coach Khano Smith. "I think it was a real professional performance from everyone. [SKC are] a good team with a lot of good young players, and we had to be good from the start to come out and match their energy. I thought everyone did that today, and it was a real professional team performance."

The team's next game, the last match of the regular season, is a winner-take-all affair on Saturday, October 30th against Louisville City FC. After both teams won this weekend, the winner of the game on 10/30 will clinch first place in the USLC Central Division. Fans can get tickets HERE and are encouraged to reach out to the Legion FC Ticket Office (205-791-7145 / tickets@bhmlegion.com) with any questions or requests.

"[Next Saturday's regular season finale against Louisville City FC] is on everybody's mind, I'm sure, and it's on everybody's mind here in the locker room, even after this win," explained Herivaux. "We're excited, we get to play in a playoff type of game to set us up for the playoffs themselves. We want to win; we want the division. It's out there, and we want everybody to know we want to win, and we're not coming out to get any type of result but three points.

"We're confident [heading into the playoffs]. We've shown this season that we can get results against any team. As long as we put in our best performance and we play as a group, as a unit, we can do amazing things. Our goal is to end with a championship. We're not going to stop until we get there.

Box Score:

1st Half 2nd Half

BHM 4 2

SKC 0 0

Goals: MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

BHM - 5' - #20 Zach Herivaux

BHM - 18' - #8 Bruno Lapa (assisted by #11 Neco Brett)

BHM - 31' - #11 Neco Brett

BHM - 39' - #8 Bruno Lapa

BHM - 70' - #77 Junior Flemmings (assisted by #24 Jonny Dean)

BHM - 76' - #10 Prosper Kasim (assisted by #8 Bruno Lapa)

Starting Lineups:

BHM - 4-3-3 - #1 Matt VanOekel; #24 Jonny Dean (72' - #13 Jake Rufe), #21 Alex Crognale, #3 Phanuel Kavita © (46' - #22 Ben Ofeimu), #7 Ryan James; #20 Zach Herivaux (73' - #12 Eli Crognale), #6 Anderson Asiedu (46' - #27 Thomas Vancaeyezeele), #8 Bruno Lapa; #77 Junior Flemmings, #11 Neco Brett (64' - #17 Jaden Servania), #10 Prosper Kasim

SKC - 4-3-3 - #1 John Pulskamp; #24 Kayden Pierre (78' - #71 Michael Lenis), #50 Aljaz Dzankic, #16 Graham Smith, #88 Isaiah LeFlore; #39 Petar Cuic, #25 Osvaldo Cisneros (78' - #87 Michael Gutierrez), #32 Christian Duke © (18' - #84 Jahon Rad); #47 Mateo Bunbury (46' - #44 Rohjay Smith), #99 Zion Long (46' - #37 Jamil Roberts), #77 Enoch Mushagalusa

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