2021 Birmingham Legion FC season
| 2021 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | List
| |||
| Head coach | Tom Soehn | |||
| Stadium | BBVA Field | |||
| USL Championship | Central Div.: 2nd | |||
| USL Championship Playoffs | Conf. Semifinals | |||
| Biggest win | BIR 6–0 SKC (10/24) | |||
| Biggest defeat | LOU 2–0 BIR (6/16) TUL 3–1 BIR (8/17) | |||
|
| ||||
The 2021 Birmingham Legion FC season was the club's third season of existence and their third in the USL Championship, the second tier of American soccer.
Roster
- As of May 17, 2021[1]
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | GK | Ford Parker | |
| 1 | GK | Matt Van Oekel | |
| 2 | MF | Marcos Ugarte | |
| 3 | DF | Phanuel Kavita | |
| 4 | DF | Freddy Kleemann (on loan from Austin FC) | |
| 5 | MF | Mikey Lopez | |
| 6 | MF | Anderson Asiedu | |
| 7 | DF | Ryan James | |
| 8 | MF | Bruno Lapa | |
| 10 | FW | Prosper Kasim | |
| 11 | FW | Neco Brett | |
| 12 | MF | Eli Crognale | |
| 13 | DF | Jake Rufe | |
| 16 | MF | Daigo Kobayashi | |
| 17 | MF | Jaden Servania | |
| 18 | GK | Trevor Spangenberg | |
| 20 | MF | Zach Herivaux | |
| 21 | DF | Alex Crognale | |
| 22 | DF | Ben Ofeimu | |
| 23 | FW | JJ Williams | |
| 24 | DF | Jonathan Dean | |
| 25 | MF | Jackson Wrobel ([A]) | |
| 77 | FW | Junior Flemmings |
- ^ USL Academy Contract
Competitions
Exhibitions
| March 13 Preseason 1 | Birmingham Legion | 2–0 | Chattanooga FC | |
| Report |
| March 28 Preseason 2 | Birmingham Legion | 0–0 | Atlanta United FC | Birmingham, AL |
| 11:30 AM CDT | Report | Stadium: BBVA Field |
| March 28 Preseason 3 | Birmingham Legion | 0–1 | Atlanta United FC | Birmingham, AL |
| 02:00 PM CDT | Report | Walkes |
Stadium: BBVA Field |
| April 9 Preseason 4 | Birmingham Legion | Cancelled | Nashville SC | |
| Report |
| April 17 Preseason 5 | Birmingham Legion | 4–1 | Chattanooga Red Wolves SC | Birmingham, AL |
| 10:30 AM CDT | Report | Stadium: BBVA Field |
USL Championship
Standings — Central Division
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville City FC | 32 | 18 | 7 | 7 | 61 | 37 | +24 | 61 | Advance to USL Championship Playoffs |
| 2 | Birmingham Legion FC | 32 | 18 | 8 | 6 | 51 | 31 | +20 | 60 | |
| 3 | Memphis 901 FC | 32 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 47 | 42 | +5 | 50 | |
| 4 | FC Tulsa | 32 | 14 | 13 | 5 | 49 | 48 | +1 | 47 | |
| 5 | OKC Energy FC | 32 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 30 | 38 | −8 | 37 |
Source: USL
Results summary
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 8 | +1 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | −1 |
Source: USLC Standings
Results by round
Match results
Birmingham's schedule was announced on March 30 featuring 32 matches, 28 of which were contested against Central Division opponents.[2]
| May 1 1 | Birmingham Legion | 0–1 | Indy Eleven | Birmingham, AL |
| 6:30 PM CDT | Asiedu Williams |
Report | Arteaga Hamilton |
Stadium: BBVA Field Attendance: 0 Referee: Greg Dopka |
| May 8 2 | Louisville City | 1–1 | Birmingham Legion | Louisville, KY |
| 6:30 PM CDT | McMahon Hubbard DelPiccolo Souahy Gómez |
Report | Brett |
Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium Attendance: 7,652 Referee: Joshua Encarnación |
| May 15 3 | Birmingham Legion | 1–0 | Memphis 901 | Birmingham, AL |
| 3:30 PM CDT | Asiedu Rufe Brett |
Report | Carroll Oduro |
Stadium: Legion Field Attendance: 10,177 Referee: Kyle Johnston |
| May 22 4 | San Antonio | 2–1 | Birmingham Legion | San Antonio, TX |
| 7:30 PM CDT | Patiño Varela Cuello Fogaça Lindley Perruzza |
Report | Kavita Brett |
Stadium: Toyota Field Attendance: 3,845 Referee: Sergii Demianchuk |
| May 26 5 | Birmingham Legion | 1–0 | OKC Energy | Birmingham, AL |
| 7:00 PM CDT | Lapa Kleemann |
Report | Brown |
Stadium: BBVA Field Attendance: ? Referee: Matthew Thompson |
| May 30 6 | Atlanta United 2 | 0–1 | Birmingham Legion | Kennesaw, GA |
| 2:30 PM CDT | Mertz Allan |
Report | Herivaux Lapa |
Stadium: Fifth Third Bank Stadium Referee: Thomas Snyder |
| June 6 7 | Birmingham Legion | 2–1 | FC Tulsa | Birmingham, AL |
| 4:00 PM CDT | Brett James |
Report | Folla Suarez |
Stadium: BBVA Field Referee: Elvis Osmanovic |
| June 12 8 | OKC Energy | 1–2 | Birmingham Legion | Oklahoma City, OK |
| 7:30 PM CDT | Bijev |
Report | Brett Asiedu James Oekel Williams |
Stadium: Taft Stadium Attendance: 2,049 Referee: Mark Allatin |
| June 16 9 | Louisville City | 2–0 | Birmingham Legion | Louisville, KY |
| 6:30 PM CDT | McCabe Lancaster Matsoso |
Report | A. Crognale |
Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium Referee: Lukasz Szpala |
| June 19 10 | Birmingham Legion | P–P | Austin Bold | Birmingham, AL |
| 6:30 PM CDT | Stadium: BBVA Field Referee: Jonathan Bilinski | |||
| Note: Match postponed due to inclement weather.[3] | ||||
| June 23 11 | Miami FC | 0–1 | Birmingham Legion | Miami, FL |
| 7:00 PM CDT | Ballard Akinyode Martínez |
Report | Williams A. Crognale Asiedu Herivaux Brett Lopez |
Stadium: FIU Soccer Stadium Referee: John Griggs |
| June 30 12 | Birmingham Legion | A–A | Atlanta United 2 | Birmingham, AL |
| 7:00 PM CDT | James Brett |
Report | McFadden Kamdem Fewo Washington |
Stadium: BBVA Field Referee: Matthew Corrigan |
| Note: Match abandoned at half-time due to weather with score tied at 1–1[4] | ||||
| July 3 13 | Indy Eleven | 0–1 | Birmingham Legion | Indianapolis, IN |
| 7:00 PM CDT | Ouimette Ayoze |
Report | Brett Lapa Servania |
Stadium: Michael A. Carroll Stadium Attendance: 6,999 Referee: Jervis Atagana |
| July 10 14 | Birmingham Legion | 0–1 | Memphis 901 FC | Birmingham, AL |
| 6:30 PM CDT | James |
Report | Salazar Oduro Murphy |
Stadium: BBVA Field Referee: Joshua Encarnación |
| July 24 15 | Indy Eleven | 1–2 | Birmingham Legion | Indianapolis, IN |
| 6:00 PM CDT | Kavita |
Report | Servania Kasim A. Crognale Dean |
Stadium: Michael A. Carroll Stadium Attendance: 5,999 Referee: Kevin Fikar |
| July 31 16 | Birmingham Legion | 2–2 | Atlanta United 2 | Birmingham, AL |
| 8:00 PM | Lopez Brett Flemmings Dean A. Crognale |
Report | McFadden Fortune Kamdem Fewo Mertz Matheus |
Stadium: BBVA Field Referee: John Matto |
| August 4 12 | Birmingham Legion | 3–1 | Atlanta United 2 | Birmingham, AL |
| 8:00 PM | Williams Lopez Flemmings Dean E. Crognale |
Report | Goodrum McFadden Bauer Fortune |
Stadium: BBVA Field Referee: Ben Meyer |
| Note: Re-schedule of abandoned June 30 match.[5] | ||||
| August 7 17 | FC Tulsa | 3–1 | Birmingham Legion | Tulsa, OK |
| 7:00 PM CDT | Jadama Sheldon Marlon Kibato Ayagwa |
Report | Brett Vancaeyezeele Rufe |
Stadium: ONEOK Field Attendance: 3,389 Referee: Jeremy Scheer |
| August 11 18 | Birmingham Legion | 4–2 | Sporting Kansas City II | Birmingham, AL |
| 7:00 PM | Brett Williams Flemmings Asiedu |
Report | Čuić Duke Roberts Barbir |
Stadium: BBVA Field Referee: John Griggs |
| August 14 19 | Memphis 901 FC | 1–1 | Birmingham Legion | Birmingham, AL |
| 7:30 PM CDT | Murphy |
Report | Flemmings |
Stadium: AutoZone Park Attendance: 4,864 Referee: Gabriele Giusti |
| August 22 20 | Birmingham Legion | 1–2 | FC Tulsa | Birmingham, AL |
| 4:00 PM CDT | Flemmings |
Report | Johnson Suárez |
Stadium: BBVA Field Referee: Sergii Demianchuk |
| August 28 21 | Birmingham Legion | 2–1 | Louisville City FC | Birmingham, AL |
| 6:30 PM CDT | Dean Lopez Brett Williams |
Report | Watts DelPiccolo |
Stadium: BBVA Field Referee: Brad Jensen |
| September 1 22 | Sporting Kansas City II | 0–1 | Birmingham Legion | Kansas City, KS |
| 7:00 PM CDT | Report | Kasim Lopez Williams |
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park Referee: Brandon Stevis |
| September 4 23 | Memphis 901 FC | 3–2 | Birmingham Legion | Memphis,TN |
| 7:00 PM CDT | Kissiedou Lamah Gonzalez |
Report | Kasim Vancaeyezeele Dean A. Crognale E. Crognale Lopez |
Stadium: AutoZone Park Attendance: 3,162 Referee: Luis Guardia |
| September 11 24 | FC Tulsa | 1–1 | Birmingham Legion | Tulsa, OK |
| 7pm CDT | Da Costa Suárez Coutinho |
Report | Kasim Lopez Williams |
Stadium: ONEOK Field Attendance: 3,439 Referee: Natalie Simon |
| September 18 25 | Birmingham Legion | 1–1 | OKC Energy | Birmingham, AL |
| 6:30 PM CDT | Flemmings Lopez |
Report | Kurimoto Bijev Batista Ellis-Hayden |
Stadium: BBVA Field Referee: Matthew Franz |
| September 22 26 | Atlanta United 2 | 0–4 | Birmingham Legion | Kennesaw, GA |
| 7:30 PM | Conway Matheus Kamdem Fewo |
Report | Vancaeyezeele Servania Brett Kasim |
Stadium: Fifth Third Bank Stadium Attendance: 717 Referee: Luis Arroyo |
| September 26 27 | Birmingham Legion | 2–1 | Charlotte Independence | Birmingham, AL |
| 4:00 PM CDT | Asiedu Brett Williams Lopez E. Crognale Herivaux |
Report | Fuchs Armour |
Stadium: BBVA Field Referee: Gerald Flores |
| October 1 28 | Sporting Kansas City II | 0–1 | Birmingham Legion | Kansas City, KS |
| 7:00 PM CDT | Davis |
Report | A. Crognale Lopez |
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park Referee: DeShun Beard |
| October 10 29 | Birmingham Legion | 3–1 | Indy Eleven | Birmingham, AL |
| 4:00 PM CDT | Brett Kavita Vancaeyezeele E. Crognale Rufe |
Report | Law |
Stadium: BBVA Field Referee: Sergii Demianchuk |
| October 13 10 | Birmingham Legion | 3–1 | Austin Bold | Birmingham, AL |
| 7:00 PM CDT | Taylor Brett Lapa Kavita |
Report | Adaptation Báez Rissi Guadarrama |
Stadium: BBVA Field Referee: John Griggs |
| Note: Re-schedule of postponed June 19th match. | ||||
| October 17 30 | OKC Energy FC | 0–0 | Birmingham Legion | Oklahoma City, OK |
| 5:00 PM CDT | Osmond Chavez |
Report | A. Crognale Asiedu Lopez Kavita |
Stadium: Taft Stadium Attendance: 3,246 Referee: Jeremy Scheer |
| October 24 31 | Birmingham Legion | 6–0 | Sporting Kansas City II | Birmingham, AL |
| 4:00 PM | Herivaux Lapa Brett Kavita Asiedu Flemmings Kasim |
Report | Lenis |
Stadium: BBVA Field Referee: Greg Dopka |
| October 30 32 | Birmingham Legion | 0–1 | Louisville City FC | Birmingham, AL |
| 6:30 PM CDT | Asiedu James |
Report | Jimenez Gomez Gonzalez Hoppenot |
Stadium: BBVA Field Referee: Matthew Thompson |
USL Cup Playoffs
| November 7 Conf. QF | Birmingham Legion | w/o | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Birmingham, AL |
| 4:00 PM CST | Report | Stadium: BBVA Field | ||
| Note: Match canceled after multiple Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC players tested positive for COVID-19.[6] | ||||
| November 13 Conf. SF | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 1–0 | Birmingham Legion | St. Petersburg, FL |
| 6:00 CST | Ekra Scarlett |
Report | A. Crognale Kasim E. Crognale Williams |
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 5,949 Referee: Elton García |
Statistics
Appearances and goals
| No. | Pos. | Name | USL | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| 1 | GK | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2 | MF | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 3 | DF | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| 4 | DF | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 5 | MF | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 6 | MF | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| 7 | DF | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| 8 | MF | 9 | 2 | 9 | 2 | |
| 10 | FW | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 11 | FW | 9 | 6 | 9 | 6 | |
| 12 | MF | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| 13 | DF | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 16 | MF | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| 17 | MF | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| 20 | MF | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| 21 | DF | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 22 | DF | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| 23 | FW | 8 | 1 | 8 | 1 | |
| 24 | DF | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| 77 | FW | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
Source: Stats
Disciplinary record
| No. | Pos. | Name | USL | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 3 | DF | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 4 | DF | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 6 | MF | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 7 | DF | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 13 | DF | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 20 | MF | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 21 | DF | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 23 | FW | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
Source: Stats
Clean sheets
| No. | Name | USL | Total | Games Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 3 | 3 | 9 | |
| 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: Stats
See also
References
- ^ "Team Roster". BHMLegion.com. Birmingham Legion FC. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
- ^ "Legion FC's 2021 USL Championship Schedule Unveiled". bhmlegion.com. March 30, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
- ^ "Legion FC Match vs. Austin Bold Abandoned". uslchampionship.com. June 19, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ^ "Birmingham Legion FC vs. Atlanta United 2 Contest Postponed". USLChampionship.com. June 30, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ "Atlanta United 2 vs. Birmingham Legion FC Contest Rescheduled". atlutd.com. Atlanta United Communications. July 12, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ "Birmingham Legion FC vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Playoff Match Canceled". USLChampionship.com. USL Championship. November 6, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.