USL Birmingham Legion FC

Match Preview: Legion FC vs OKC Energy FC - Saturday, September 18

September 17, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Birmingham Legion FC News Release


MATCH INFO:

Birmingham Legion FC vs OKC Energy FC

Saturday, September 18 - 6:30PM CT Kickoff

BBVA Field - Birmingham, AL

Watch - My68, ESPN+

Stats - Legion FC Match Center

Legion FC bounced back from a devastating loss at Memphis on September 4 with a clutch performance to rescue a point in its trip to Tulsa on September 11. The vital draw kept BHM in second place in the USLC Central Division, two points ahead of Tulsa and four back of Louisville with nine matches to play in the regular season.

Forward JJ Williams bagged the lone goal last weekend, his fifth tally of the season, to go along with three assists, both tied for second-most on the team. The assist on the goal was provided by midfielder Mikey Lopez, his third of the year. Forward Junior Flemmings, fresh off of international duty with Jamaica, is tied with Williams for second on the team in goals, with five, second to just his fellow countryman, forward Neco Brett's 12, which is tied for third-most in the league.

Legion is looking to increase its goal tally and get back to the solid defense it displayed earlier in the season, as the team is currently middle of the pack in goals scored (31), and top ten in the league in goals allowed (26) and shutouts (six).

OKC Energy FC comes into the match holding down the coveted fourth and final playoff spot in the Central and has lost just once in its last five matches. However, OKC hopes to jumpstart its attack as well, as it's currently bottom six in the league in goals (25), having attempted the third-fewest shots (240).

That attack is truly spearheaded by midfielder Villyan Bijev. As his ten goals lead the team, and no one else in the side has more than two. Bijev also leads the team in assists (four), shots (42, second-most is Jaime Chavez's 22) and chances created (25).

Defensively, the team is in the middle of the pack (28 goals allowed) in the USLC, but plays a clean game, having earned just 36 yellow cards this year, fewest in the league. Goalkeeper CJ Cochran, an Alpharetta, GA product, anchors the team at the back, as his 65 saves are good for sixth-most in the league, and his seven shutouts are third-most, one spot above Birmingham's Matt VanOekel.

The season series between these two clubs is 2-0-0 to the Legion, thanks to a 1-0 win at home on May 26, a game in which midfielder Bruno Lapa scored the lone goal, and a 2-1 win in OK June 12, when Brett and Williams hit paydirt, along with Bijev.

The OKC team also leads the league in draws (nine), showing it has been in most games, but actually has more wins on the road this year (four) than at home (three), so it will look to keep that trend going on Saturday at BBVA Field.

On this week's VIVA Health injury report, Legion FC midfielder Daigo Kobayashi (knee) is still listed as questionable. The only other player unavailable for selection is defender Freddy Kleemann, as he has been recalled from loan by Austin FC.

Saturday night we will kick off Hispanic Heritage Month by celebrating with HICA! Night, and by going to this link and using promo code HICA, three dollars from the ticket purchased will go to support the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama. The first 750 fans at the game will also receive a special-edition scarf with Birmingham Barons insignia on one side and Legion FC on the other. #BuiltByBham

Check out the Birmingham Legion FC Statistics



United Soccer League Championship Stories from September 17, 2021


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