Steel FC earns three points in shutout over Legion FC to start 2019 regular season
March 10, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Philadelphia Union II News Release
TEAM NOTES
The match against Birmingham Legion FC was the 100th match in charge for Head Coach Brendan Burke. Burke has amassed a 33-40-27 record across all competitions in his four seasons with Steel FC. Burke has helped managed the Steel to two USL Cup Playoffs births, including leading the club to the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the first time in the club's modern-era founding.
Kacper Przybylko and Zach Zandi both scored their first goals for Bethlehem Steel FC. This was also the debut match for both players. Przybylko signed a new contract with Philadelphia Union on December 17, 2018 after joining the Union in earlier in 2018. Zandi signed his first professional contract for Bethlehem Steel FC on January 8, 2019.
Goalkeeper Matt Freese earned his first career shutout, making three saves in the match. Freese signed for Philadelphia Union on December 21, 2018 after playing two seasons of collegiate soccer at Harvard University.
Nine players made their debuts for Steel FC in the match against Birmingham Legion FC, including three Philadelphia Union Academy Players. Matt Freese and Kacper Przybylko both started and made their debut appearances for the Steel. Steel FC players Jamoi Topey, Chavany Willis, Zach Zandi and Saed DÃaz all started and made their debuts as well. Union Academy players Cole Turner, Shanyder Borgelin and Jack de Vries all made substitute appearances for the first time.
Steel FC play next on Saturday, March 16 in the club's home opener, hosting North Carolina FC at Talen Energy Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET/ESPN+).
Bethlehem Steel FC 2 - Birmingham Legion FC 0
BBVA Compass Field (Birmingham, Ala.)
Sunday, March 10, 2019
TODAY'S MATCH INFO:
Venue: BBVA Compass Field (Birmingham, Ala.)
Referee: Ismir Pekmic
Weather: 70 degrees and cloudy
Attendance: 5,807
GOALS/ASSISTS
BST - Kacper Przybylko (Unassisted) 53'
BST - Zach Zandi (Matt Real) 68'
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
BHM - Mikey Lopez (caution) 42'
BHM - Femi Hollinger-Janzen (caution) 73'
BST - Saed DÃaz (caution) 76'
BHM - Eric Avila (caution) 90+4'
LINEUP
Bethlehem Steel FC: Matt Freese; Matt Real, Jamoi Topey, Ben Ofeimu, Issa Rayyan; James Chambers ©, Chavany Willis; Zach Zandi (Jack de Vries 90+6'), Anthony Fontana; Saed DÃaz (Cole Turner 88'), Kacper Przybylko (Shanyder Borgelin 90+4')
Substitutes not used: Tomás Romero; Walter Cortés, Nathan Harriel
Birmingham Legion FC: Trevor Spangenberg; Kyle Culbertson, Marcel Appiah, Kyle Fisher, Eric Avila; Daniel Johnson, Daigo Kobayashi (Marcos Ugarte 81'), Mikey Lopez ©, Prosper Kasim (Gael Mabiala 90+2'); Chandler Hoffman, Femi Hollinger-Janzen (Tyler Turner 73')
Substitutes not used: Joe Nasco; Benjamin Kucera, Mathieu Laurent, Tyler Savitsky
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