2024 Birmingham Legion FC season

Birmingham Legion FC
2024 season
General Manager	Jay Heaps
Head Coach	Tom Soehn
Stadium	Protective Stadium
USL Championship	Eastern Conference: 9th
Playoffs	DNQ
U.S. Open Cup	Round of 32
Top goalscorer	League: Stefano Pinho (10 goals); All: Stefano Pinho (13 goals)
Home colors	Away colors

The 2024 Birmingham Legion season was the sixth season of play in the club's history in the USL Championship,^[1] the second tier of American soccer.

Squad Information

Roster

As of July 24, 2024^[2]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	USA	Matt Van Oekel
3	DF	COD	Phanuel Kavita
4	DF	USA	Ramiz Hamouda
5	MF	USA	Mikey Lopez
7	FW	NGA	Diba Nwegbo
8	MF	USA	Kobe Hernandez-Foster
10	FW	GHA	Prosper Kasim
11	DF	USA	Dawson McCartney
13	DF	USA	Jake Rufe
14	DF	USA	Derek Dodson
15	FW	CAN	Tyler Pasher
17	MF	USA	Matthew Corcoran


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
18	GK	USA	Trevor Spangenberg
19	MF	URU	Enzo Martínez
20	DF	GRN	A. J. Paterson
21	DF	USA	Alex Crognale
23	FW	CMR	Tabort Etaka Preston
28	MF	USA	Miguel Perez (On loan from St. Louis City SC)
29	FW	BRA	Stéfano Pinho
30	GK	USA	Brock Marlow
33	DF	GHA	Moses Mensah
47	MF	USA	Finn Calloway
75	GK	USA	Owen Jack
77	FW	SLE	Mohamed Buya Turay

Competitions

Preseason

In preparation for the start of league play, the Birmingham Legion played in a preseason match against Chattanooga FC, a team in the third division league MLS Next Pro, away.^[3]

All times in Eastern Time Zone.

March 2, 2024 (2024-03-02)	Chattanooga FC	0–3	Birmingham Legion	Chattanooga, Tennessee
2:00 p.m.		Report	Preston 18' 46' Pasher 26' (pen.)	Stadium: Finley Stadium

USL Championship

Standings

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
7	Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC	34	12	10	12	41	28	+13	48	Playoffs
8	North Carolina FC	34	13	12	9	54	43	+11	48	Playoffs
9	Birmingham Legion FC	34	13	15	6	44	51	−7	45
10	Hartford Athletic	34	12	14	8	39	52	−13	44
11	Loudoun United FC	34	11	14	9	44	39	+5	42

Source: USL Championship Standings
Rules for classification: 1) head-to-head points; 2) head-to-head goal differential; 3) points-per game within conference; 4) total wins; 5) total goal differential; 6) total goals scored; 7) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 8) disciplinary points; 9) coin toss or drawing of lots

Match results

On December 18, 2023, the USL Championship released the regular season schedule for all 24 teams.^[4]

All times in Eastern Time Zone.

March 9, 2024 (2024-03-09) 1	Phoenix Rising FC	0–1	Birmingham Legion	Phoenix, Arizona
9:30 pm	Formella 53' Rito 71'	Report	Martínez 45' Scearce 67' (o.g.) Crognale 73' Nwegbo 76' Hernandez-Foster 76'	Stadium: Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium Attendance: 8,187 Referee: Elvis Osmanovic

March 23, 2024 (2024-03-23) 2	Hartford Athletic	1–0	Birmingham Legion	Hartford, Connecticut
2:00 pm	Ngalina 23' Asiedu 60'	Report		Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium Attendance: 2,969 Referee: Greg Dopka

March 30, 2024 (2024-03-30) 3	Louisville City FC	5–0	Birmingham Legion	Louisville, Kentucky
4:00 pm	Morris 13' Wilson 17' Harris 35', 66' Wynder 68' Davila 70', 73' Serrano 82'	Report	Pasher 61' Crognale 64' Paterson 76' Kavita 78'	Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium Attendance: 8,973 Referee: Calin Radosav Assistant referees: Mike Nickerson Assistant referees: Eric Burton Fourth official: Shawn Westerfield

April 7, 2024 (2024-04-07) 4	Birmingham Legion	3–1	Loudoun United FC	Birmingham, Alabama
6:30 pm	Mensah 45' Leerman 67' (o.g.) Pasher 74' Murana 90'+6'	Report	McCabe 22' Aboukoura 48' Erlandson 60'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 2,112 Referee: Melvin Rivas

April 14, 2024 (2024-04-14) 5	North Carolina FC	1–1	Birmingham Legion	Cary, North Carolina
5:00 pm	da Costa 2' (pen.)	Report	Martinez 23' 58' Paterson 31' Perez 90'+5'	Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 1,807 Referee: Velimir Stefanovic

April 20, 2024 (2024-04-20) 6	Miami FC	0–1	Birmingham Legion	Miami, Florida
7:00 pm	Molina 51' Luis Pedro 82' Cardona 88'	Report	Mensah 60' Stefano Pinho 62' Hernandez-Foster 70' Martínez 89'	Stadium: Riccardo Silva Stadium Attendance: 1,092 Referee: Lorenzo Hernandez

April 27, 2024 (2024-04-27) 7	Birmingham Legion	0–3	Memphis 901 FC	Birmingham, Alabama
7:30 pm	Kavita 72' Hernandez-Foster 90'+4'	Report	Lapa 4', 54' Turci 17' Fernando 45'+3' Ward 81'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 2,541 Referee: Alejo Calume

May 4, 2024 (2024-05-04) 8	Birmingham Legion	2–2	FC Tulsa	Birmingham, Alabama
7:30 pm	Martínez 71' Pinho 90+4'	Report	Goodrum 21' Stojanovic 57'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 2,541 Referee: Nabil Bensalah

May 11, 2024 (2024-05-11) 9	Tampa Bay Rowdies	0–1	Birmingham Legion	St. Petersburg, Florida
7:30 pm	Guillen 80'	Report	Kavita 9' Murana 32' Hernandez-Foster 37' Martínez 67' Pasher 90'+1'	Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 5,433 Referee: Elton García

May 15, 2024 (2024-05-15) 10	Birmingham Legion	0–1	Charleston Battery	Birmingham, Alabama
8:00 pm	Martínez 46' Crognale 74' Tabortetaka 86'	Report	Ycaza 61' Molloy 69' Conway 88'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 3,937 Referee: Jeremy Scheer

May 25, 2024 (2024-05-25) 11	Sacramento Republic FC	0–0	Birmingham Legion	Sacramento, California
10:00 pm	Timmer 13' Nick Ross 22' Gurr 89' Herrera 89'	Report	Rufe 88' Kavita 90'	Stadium: Heart Health Park Attendance: 10,188 Referee: Brandon Stevis

June 1, 2024 (2024-06-01) 12	El Paso Locomotive FC	1–3	Birmingham Legion	El Paso, Texas
8:00 pm	Craig 29' Dhillon 44'	Report	McCartney 26' Pasher 34' Prosper 45'+3' McCartney 45'+7' Pasher 64'	Stadium: Southwest University Park Attendance: 5,707 Referee: John Matto

June 9, 2024 (2024-06-09) 13	Birmingham Legion	0–1	Indy Eleven	Birmingham, Alabama
7:00 pm		Report	Blake pen' (34)	Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 5,147 Referee: Natalie Simon

June 19, 2024 (2024-06-19) 14	Birmingham Legion	3–0	San Antonio FC	Birmingham, Alabama
8:00 pm	Rufe 16' Crognale 51' Tabort Etaka 55' Pasher 87'	Report	Gomez 51' Taintor 65'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 1,996 Referee: Elvis Osmanovic

June 25, 2024 (2024-06-25) 15	Detroit City FC	1–2	Birmingham Legion	Hamtramack, Michigan
7:00 pm	Rh. Williams 39'	Report	Pasher 64' Dodson 82' Kavita 86', 88'	Stadium: Keyworth Stadium Attendance: 6,244 Referee: Abdou Ndiaye

June 29, 2024 (2024-06-29) 16	Birmingham Legion	1–4	Louisville City FC	Birmingham, Alabama
7:30 pm	Tabort Etaka 82'	Report	Charpie 17' Gonzalez 41' Ordoñez 45+4' Gleadle 51' Harris 58' Serrano 80' Showunmi 87'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 5,011 Referee: Joshua Encarnacion Assistant referees: Nicholas Balcer Assistant referees: Sarah Gaddes Fourth official: Joshua Belk

July 6, 2024 (2024-07-06) 17	Charleston Battery	2–0	Birmingham Legion	Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
7:00 pm	Markanich 43' (pen.) 70'	Report	Prosper 21' Crognale 40' Kavita 54' Perez 90'	Stadium: Patriots Point Soccer Complex Attendance: 3,396 Referee: Lorenzo Hernandez

July 13, 2024 (2024-07-13) 18	Birmingham Legion	2–1	Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC	Birmingham, Alabama
8:30 pm	McCartney 45'+1' Paterson 69' Pinho 85'	Report	Zandi 11'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 1,704 Referee: Adam Kilpatrick

July 17, 2024 (2024-07-17) 19	Birmingham Legion	1–3	Rhode Island FC	Birmingham, Alabama
8:00 pm	Crognale 31' Kasim 50' Paterson 78'	Report	Fuson 1' Dikwa 7' Ybarra 13' Herivaux 68', 77'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 4,136 Referee: Benjamin Meyer

July 20, 2024 (2024-07-20) 20	New Mexico United	1–1	Birmingham Legion	Albuquerque, New Mexico
9:00 pm	Rivas 60' Bailey 65' Maples 66' Tabakis 81'	Report	Hamouda 15' Paterson 81'	Stadium: Isotopes Park Attendance: 9,096 Referee: Luis Arroyo

July 27, 2024 (2024-07-27) 21	Birmingham Legion	3–0	Orange County SC	Birmingham, Alabama
7:30 pm	Pinho 51', 89' Martínez 85' Pasher 90'+5'	Report	Flood 3' Nakkim 10' Scott 10' Lambe 86'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 4,023 Referee: Matthew Thompson

August 3, 2024 22	Birmingham Legion FC	2–2	Hartford Athletic	Birmingham, Alabama
7:30 pm	Martínez 32' McCartney 38' Paterson 47'	Report	Mamadou 72' Ngalina 87' (pen.)	Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 4,017 Referee: Corbyn May

August 10, 2024 (2024-08-10) 23	Monterey Bay FC	1–2	Birmingham Legion	Seaside, California
10:00 pm	Rebollar 16' Fehr 54' Trager 60'	Report	Hernandez-Foster 33' 45' Pinho 48' Crognale 71'	Stadium: Cardinale Stadium Attendance: 4,009 Referee: Muhammad Hassan

August 16, 2024 (2024-08-16) 24	Birmingham Legion FC	0–1	Detroit City FC	Birmingham, Alabama
8:00 pm	Pinho 90+3'	Report	Levis 32' Sheldon 75'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 4,123 Referee: Calin Radosav

August 24, 2024 (2024-08-24) 25	Birmingham Legion FC	0–3	Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC	Birmingham, AL
7:00 pm	Zouhir 27' McCartney 43' Dodson 83' Hernandez-Foster 90'+4'	Report	Kizza 34', 39' Biasi 79' Johnson 84'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 3,945 Referee: Gerald Flores

August 31, 2024 (2024-08-31) 26	Rhode Island FC	2–0	Birmingham Legion	Smithfield, Rhode Island
4:00 pm	Duggan 19' Turnbull 71' 72' Kwizera 89' Williams 90' Brito 90+3'	Report	Crognale 30' Paterson 90+3'	Stadium: Beirne Stadium Attendance: 3,713 Referee: Greg Dopka

September 11, 2024 27	Birmingham Legion FC	2–0	Tampa Bay Rowdies	Birmingham, Alabama
7:00 pm	Hernandez-Foster 13', 86' Pinho 32', 36' Mensah 43' Dodson 48' Nwegbo 58'	Report	Kleemann 55' Crisostomo 71'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 5,058 Referee: Lorenzo Hernandez

September 14, 2024 (2024-09-14) 28	Loudoun United FC	4–2	Birmingham Legion	Leesburg, Virginia
7:00 pm	Hughes 36' Erlandson 48' Johnston 56' Ryan 69' Williamson 78' Valot 90'	Report	Crognale 15' Martínez 19' McCartney 62' Nwegbo 63'	Stadium: Segra Field Attendance: 3,120 Referee: Muhammad Hassan

September 22, 2024 (2024-09-22) 29	Birmingham Legion	1–0	Miami FC	Birmingham, Alabama
5:00 pm	Zouhir 39' Martínez 90' Matheus 90'+4'	Report		Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 4,279 Referee: Benjamin Meyer

September 28, 2024 (2024-09-28) 30	Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC	1–1	Birmingham Legion	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
7:00 pm	Kizza 22' Hogan 72' Johnson 90'+4'	Report	McCartney 25' Nwegbo 33' Pinho 79'	Stadium: Highmark Stadium Attendance: 5,537 Referee: Elvis Osmanovic

October 6, 2024 (2024-10-06) 31	Birmingham Legion	2–3	North Carolina FC	Birmingham, Alabama
6:00 pm	Martínez 32' Rufe 45'+3' Hernandez-Foster 46' Zouhir 80' 89'	Report	Armstrong 8', 65' Anderson 59'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 3,012 Referee: Alejo Calume

October 13, 2023 (2023-10-13) 32	Birmingham Legion	0–3	Las Vegas Lights FC	Birmingham, Alabama
7:00 pm	Hernandez-Foster 5' Rufe 45' Tabortetaka 64'	Report	Gyau 18' Bennett 73' Gannon 87' Pinzon 90'+3'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 4,761 Referee: Ricardo Fierro

October 19, 2024 (2024-10-19) 33	Indy Eleven	3–2	Birmingham Legion	Indianapolis, Indiana
7:00 pm	Kavita 14' (o.g.) Blake 15' A. Williams 79' Wootton 86'	Report	Pinho 54' Zouhir 90'	Stadium: IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium Attendance: 10,540 Referee: Matthew Corrigan

October 14, 2023 (2023-10-14) 34	Oakland Roots SC	0–5	Birmingham Legion	Hayward, California
10:00 pm	Hackshaw 24'	Report	Tabortetaka 21', 40' Pinho 31' Nwegbo 35' Martínez 87' 69' 90'+1'	Stadium: Pioneer Stadium Attendance: 4,995 Referee: Elton García

U.S. Open Cup

As a member of the USL Championship, the Birmingham Legion were matched up against the Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, a fellow team governed by the United Soccer League in the third division USL League One, at home.^[5] After winning in added extra time 4-2 after forward Stefano Pinho scored four goals,^[6] the Legion were matched up against fellow USL Championship club Tampa Bay Rowdies away,^[7]^[8] where they would come back and force added extra time after being down by four goals in regular time, before eventually losing 6-4.^[9]^[10]

April 17 Third Round	Birmingham Legion FC (USLC)	4–2 (a.e.t.)	Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL1)	Montevallo, Alabama
	Rufe 13' Martínez 34' Pinho 48', 80', 105+1', 107' Tabortetaka 57' Van Oekel 75'	Report	Folla 12' 82' Ruiz 76' (pen.) Fernandes 90'+1'	Stadium: University of Montevallo^[11] Attendance: 300 Referee: Kyle Johnston

May 8 Round of 32	Tampa Bay Rowdies	6–4 (a.e.t.)	Birmingham Legion FC	St. Petersburg, Florida
19:30	Dennis 23' Rivera 25' Jennings 33', 45+6', 79' Munjoma 82' Arteaga 101', 109' 90'+3' 120'+3'	Report	Mensah 42' Paterson 50' Martínez 82' Hernandez-Foster 89' Pasher 90+3', 90+6' (pen.) Crognale 91' Rufe 120'	Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 2,195 Referee: Alyssa Nichols

References

^ "Birmingham will compete in 34 matches across a 34-week regular season". bhmlegion.com. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
^ "Roster". USL Championship. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
^ khernandez. "Birmingham Legion FC Announce Additional Preseason Friendly Against Chattanooga FC". Birmingham Legion FC. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
^ USLChampionship com Staff (December 18, 2023). "USL Championship Unveils 2024 Regular Season Schedule". USL Championship. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
^ "U.S. Soccer Sets Third Round Schedule for 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup". www.ussoccer.com. April 4, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
^ Hodges, Kaylor (April 18, 2024). "2024 US Open Cup Round 3: Four Stefano Pinho goals carry Birmingham Legion to OT win over Chattanooga Red Wolves". thecup.us. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
^ "Rowdies enter Round of 32 in U.S. Open Cup, will host Birmingham tonight at Al Lang Stadium". ABC Action News Tampa Bay (WFTS). May 8, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
^ Rueter, Jeff. "U.S. Open Cup draw: NYCFC II is only MLS Next Pro team in last 32". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
^ Mongrue, Trey (May 8, 2024). "Legion FC's Open Cup Run Ends with Extra Time Defeat". Birmingham Legion FC. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
^ Spectrum News Staff (May 9, 2024). "Rowdies survive, get past Birmingham in Open Cup". baynews9.com. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
^ Hernandez, K. "Legion FC Kicks Off U.S. Lamar Hunt Open Cup at 7 pm on April 17 at the University of Montevallo". BHMLegion.com. Birmingham Legion. Retrieved April 12, 2024.

[1] "Birmingham will compete in 34 matches across a 34-week regular season". bhmlegion.com. Retrieved December 24, 2023.

[2] "Roster". USL Championship. Retrieved July 24, 2024.

[3] rnandez. "Birmingham Legion FC Announce Additional Preseason Friendly Against Chattanooga FC". Birmingham Legion FC. Retrieved July 24, 2024.

[4] USLChampionship com Staff (December 18, 2023). "USL Championship Unveils 2024 Regular Season Schedule". USL Championship. Retrieved June 25, 2024.

[5] "U.S. Soccer Sets Third Round Schedule for 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup". www.ussoccer.com. April 4, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.

[6] Hodges, Kaylor (April 18, 2024). "2024 US Open Cup Round 3: Four Stefano Pinho goals carry Birmingham Legion to OT win over Chattanooga Red Wolves". thecup.us. Retrieved July 24, 2024.

[7] "Rowdies enter Round of 32 in U.S. Open Cup, will host Birmingham tonight at Al Lang Stadium". ABC Action News Tampa Bay (WFTS). May 8, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.

[8] Rueter, Jeff. "U.S. Open Cup draw: NYCFC II is only MLS Next Pro team in last 32". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 24, 2024.

[9] Mongrue, Trey (May 8, 2024). "Legion FC's Open Cup Run Ends with Extra Time Defeat". Birmingham Legion FC. Retrieved July 24, 2024.

[10] Spectrum News Staff (May 9, 2024). "Rowdies survive, get past Birmingham in Open Cup". baynews9.com. Retrieved July 24, 2024.

[11] Hernandez, K. "Legion FC Kicks Off U.S. Lamar Hunt Open Cup at 7 pm on April 17 at the University of Montevallo". BHMLegion.com. Birmingham Legion. Retrieved April 12, 2024.

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