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USL Birmingham Legion FC

Match Preview: Legion FC vs Phoenix Rising FC - Sunday, April 9 at 4:30pm

April 8, 2023 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Birmingham Legion FC News Release


The Birmingham Legion FC will host Phoenix Rising FC on Easter Sunday, April 9 @ 4:30pm at Protective Stadium. Gates open at 3:30pm and all fans are invited to join us for an Easter egg hunt in the stadium! Along with an exhilarating Easter egg hunt, the grounds will now also feature food trucks!

Legion FC, undefeated in four matches and on a three-win streak, returns to Protective Stadium after winning two shutouts on the road against Hartford Athletic and Tampa Bay. The Three Sparks, with ten points, sit in first place in the Eastern Conference standings, and will look to defend its four-point lead in its homecoming match against Phoenix Rising FC.

In its last match, Birmingham got the win over the Tampa Rowdies for the first time since August of 2019 thanks to an unanswered brace by leading Legion goal scorer Neco Brett. Brett is Legion FC's all-time leading goal scorer with 29 goals to his name. Brett, along with 2022 All-League Enzo Martinez, Juan Agudelo, and Tyler Pasher have been making Birmingham one of the most lethal attacks in the USLC with seven goals scored.

The Black & Gold road warriors demonstrated its depth on Wednesday, April 5 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Against the USL1 Chattanooga side Red Wolves SC, the Three Sparks scored four goals in a 4-1 thriller, including a brace by forward Agudelo and a goal by newcomers Diba Nwegbo and Collin Smith respectively. The goals by Smith and Nwegbo were their first in a Legion shirt.

Opponent Information:

Phoenix Rising FC - 0-1-2 - Three Goals For, Six Goals Against - -3 Goal Differential

All Time Head-to-Head:

Birmingham - 1 - 0 - 0 - Phoenix

FiveThirtyEight Prediction

Birmingham: 40%

Phoenix: 35%

Draw: 25%

Phoenix Rising FC comes into the match looking for its first win after having only three points and sitting in last place in the Western Conference standings with two draws and one loss. They have been able to score in two of its three matches but have not been able to hold a lead. Manuel Arteaga is its leading goal scorer with two goal, and will look to threaten Legion's back line.

For this week's UAB Medicine Injury Report, midfielder Mikey Lopez and goalkeeper Matt VanOekel are unavailable for selection.

Fans interested in 2023 Season Tickets can find more information at bhmlegion.com/2023tickets and are encouraged to email tickets@bhmlegion.com or call the Legion FC Ticket Office at 205-791-7145.

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