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USL North Carolina FC

North Carolina FC Looks to Secure a Win against Birmingham Legion FC

September 24, 2020 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
North Carolina FC News Release


Cary, NC - North Carolina FC will travel to face Birmingham Legion FC at BBVA Field in Birmingham, Alabama this Saturday, September 26 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The match will air on ESPN+.

Previously, North Carolina FC fell to the Charlotte Independence in a physical game that saw two red cards and eight yellow cards administered between the two teams. A goal in the early minutes of the second half won the match for Charlotte, 1-0. Despite maintaining 60% of possession and boasting 85% passing accuracy throughout the match, NCFC was unable to find the net as the final minutes ticked away. NCFC will look to bounce back in Saturday's match against the Legion.

Birmingham Legion FC defeated Miami FC last Wednesday. Forward Neco Brett and defender Alex Crognale each scored a brace during the match to seal the 4-0 victory. The Legion currently sit atop the standings in Group G of the USL Championship league with 25 points.

In the last meeting between the two teams, North Carolina FC topped Birmingham Legion FC 2-1. In the 24th minute, Hadji Barry played a ball to Nazmi Albadawi who scored from outside the box to give NCFC the lead midway through the first half. Prosper Kasim recorded a goal for Birmingham in the 59th minute to tie the match. A minute later, Dre Fortune earned a penalty kick and scored to put NCFC up 2-1. As the clock wound down, Birmingham scrambled for the equalizer and was eventually awarded a penalty kick in the 90th minute. Alex Tambakis came up big for NCFC, making the save to secure three points.

Players to Watch Presented by Aetna:

North Carolina FC - #2 Manny Perez

Playing 646 minutes in 11 games for NCFC, Perez has proven his talents both defensively and offensively and boasts an 85.6% passing success rate. Perez will look to capitalize on his ability to distribute the ball this Saturday, making him a key player in NCFC's attacking strategy.

Birmingham Legion FC - #21 Alex Crognale

Scoring two goals in Birmingham's last match, Crognale will look to create scoring chances for the Legion in Saturday's contest. Known for his abilities on defense and experience in both the MLS and the USL, Crognale is a key asset to Birmingham's backline.

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