2020 Birmingham Legion FC season
Birmingham Legion FC 2020 soccer season
2020 season | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Owners | List
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Head coach | Tom Soehn | |||
USL Championship | Conference: 7th Group G: 2nd | |||
USLC Playoffs | Conference Quarterfinals | |||
2020 U.S. Open Cup | Cancelled | |||
Biggest win | MIA 0–4 BHM (September 16) | |||
Biggest defeat | BHM 1–3 CLT (September 12) MEM 3–1 BHM (October 3) TBR 4–2 BHM (October 10) | |||
| ||||
The 2020 Birmingham Legion FC season was the club's second season of existence and their second in the USL Championship, the second tier of American soccer.[1] This article covers the period from November 18, 2019, the day after the 2019 USLC Playoff Final, to the conclusion of the 2020 USLC Playoff Final, scheduled for November 12–16, 2020.[2]
Roster
- As of 22 January 2020[3]
No. | Name | Nationality | Position(s) | Date of birth (age) | Signed in | Previous club | Apps. | Goals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Goalkeepers | ||||||||
0 | Joe Nasco | ![]() | GK | (1984-06-18) June 18, 1984 (age 40) | 2019 | ![]() | 0 | 0 |
1 | Matt Van Oekel | ![]() | GK | (1986-09-20) September 20, 1986 (age 37) | 2019 | ![]() | 0 | 0 |
18 | Trevor Spangenberg | ![]() | GK | (1991-04-21) April 21, 1991 (age 33) | 2019 | ![]() | 0 | 0 |
Defenders | ||||||||
3 | Kyle Fisher | ![]() | DF | (1994-06-19) June 19, 1994 (age 29) | 2019 | ![]() | 0 | 0 |
12 | Eric Avila | ![]() | DF | (1987-11-24) November 24, 1987 (age 36) | 2019 | ![]() | 0 | 0 |
15 | Akeem Ward | ![]() | DF | (1996-01-06) January 6, 1996 (age 28) | 2019 | ![]() | 0 | 0 |
17 | Gael Mabiala | ![]() | DF | (1994-06-07) June 7, 1994 (age 30) | 2019 | ![]() | 0 | 0 |
22 | Mathieu Laurent | ![]() | DF | (1996-02-28) February 28, 1996 (age 28) | 2019 | ![]() | 0 | 0 |
23 | Benjamin Kucera | ![]() | DF | (1994-08-10) August 10, 1994 (age 29) | 2019 | ![]() | 0 | 0 |
30 | Razak Cromwell | ![]() | DF | (1994-10-03) October 3, 1994 (age 29) | 2019 | ![]() | 0 | 0 |
33 | Kyle Culbertson | ![]() | DF | (1992-11-03) November 3, 1992 (age 31) | 2019 | ![]() | 0 | 0 |
Midfielders | ||||||||
2 | Marcos Ugarte | ![]() | MF | (1992-12-02) December 2, 1992 (age 31) | 2019 | ![]() | 0 | 0 |
5 | Mikey Lopez | ![]() | MF | (1993-02-20) February 20, 1993 (age 31) | 2019 | ![]() | 0 | 0 |
6 | Anderson Asiedu | ![]() | MF | (1996-06-12) June 12, 1996 (age 28) | 2019 | ![]() | 0 | 0 |
8 | Joe Holland | ![]() | MF | (1993-04-21) April 21, 1993 (age 31) | 2019 | ![]() | 0 | 0 |
14 | Daniel Johnson | ![]() | MF | (1995-09-08) September 8, 1995 (age 28) | 2019 | ![]() | 0 | 0 |
16 | Daigo Kobayashi | ![]() | MF | (1983-02-19) February 19, 1983 (age 41) | 2019 | ![]() | 0 | 0 |
21 | Zachary Herivaux | ![]() | MF | (1996-02-01) February 1, 1996 (age 28) | 2019 | ![]() | 0 | 0 |
Forwards | ||||||||
7 | Brian Wright | ![]() | FW | (1995-03-24) March 24, 1995 (age 29) | 2019 | ![]() | 0 | 0 |
9 | Chandler Hoffman | ![]() | FW | (1990-08-17) August 17, 1990 (age 33) | 2019 | ![]() | 0 | 0 |
10 | Prosper Kasim | ![]() | FW | (1996-12-15) December 15, 1996 (age 27) | 2019 | ![]() | 0 | 0 |
11 | JJ Williams | ![]() | FW | (1998-01-04) January 4, 1998 (age 26) | 2019 | ![]() | 0 | 0 |
13 | Tyler Savitsky | ![]() | FW | (1996-07-05) July 5, 1996 (age 27) | 2019 | ![]() | 0 | 0 |
27 | Edward Opoku | ![]() | FW | (1996-08-01) August 1, 1996 (age 27) | 2019 | ![]() | 0 | 0 |
88 | Femi Hollinger-Janzen | ![]() | FW | (1993-12-14) December 14, 1993 (age 30) | 2019 | ![]() | 0 | 0 |
Competitions
Exhibitions
Birmingham Legion v Atlanta United FC
February 8 Preseason 1 | Birmingham Legion | 2–3 | Atlanta United FC | Birmingham, AL |
3:30PM CDT | Brett ![]() Mensah ![]() | BIR report ATL report | Barco ![]() Mulraney ![]() Jahn ![]() Rossetto ![]() | Stadium: BBVA Field Attendance: 6,722 |
Birmingham Legion v TBD
February 16 Preseason 2 | Birmingham Legion | v | TBD | Birmingham, AL |
CDT | Stadium: BBVA Field Attendance: Closed |
Birmingham Legion v Forward Madison FC
February 19 Preseason 3 | Birmingham Legion | 3–0 | Forward Madison FC | Hoover, AL |
1:00 PM CST |
| Report | Stadium: Hoover Metropolitan Complex Attendance: Closed | |
Note: 70 minute scrimmage |
Birmingham Legion v Atlanta United 2
February 22 Preseason 4 | Birmingham Legion | v | Atlanta United 2 | Marietta, GA |
CDT | Stadium: Atlanta United Training Facility |
Antigua GFC
v
Birmingham Legion
![Guatemala](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/Flag_of_Guatemala.svg/23px-Flag_of_Guatemala.svg.png)
![United States](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/23px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png)
February 22 Preseason 5 | Antigua GFC ![]() | v | ![]() | Antigua, Guatemala |
12:45PM CDT |
USL Championship
Standings — Group G
Pos | Team
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Charlotte Independence | 16 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 24 | 22 | +2 | 28 | 1.75 | Advance to USL Championship Playoffs |
2 | Birmingham Legion FC | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 29 | 19 | +10 | 25 | 1.56 | |
3 | North Carolina FC | 15 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 17 | 21 | −4 | 19 | 1.27 | |
4 | Memphis 901 FC | 15 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 24 | 31 | −7 | 16 | 1.07 |
Source: USL
Match results
In the preparations for the resumption of league play following the shutdown prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Birmingham's schedule was announced on July 7.[4]
Birmingham Legion v Memphis 901 FC
July 15 1 | Birmingham Legion | 3–0 | Memphis 901 FC | Birmingham, AL |
7:00 PM CDT | Lapa ![]() ![]() Servania ![]() Wright ![]() A. Crognale ![]() | Report | da Silva ![]() Carroll ![]() | Stadium: BBVA Field Referee: Matthew Thompson |
Note: Televised live on ESPN2 |
Charleston Battery v Birmingham Legion
July 19 2 | Charleston Battery | 1–2 | Birmingham Legion | Charleston, SC |
6:00 PM CDT | Lewis ![]() Daley ![]() | Report | Wright ![]() A. Crognale ![]() Rufe ![]() Cromwell ![]() Lapa ![]() Akinyode ![]() Servania | Stadium: MUSC Health Stadium Referee: Kevin Broadley |
Birmingham Legion v Tampa Bay Rowdies
July 25 3 | Birmingham Legion | 1–1 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Birmingham, AL |
7:30 PM CDT | A. Crognale ![]() Akinyode ![]() Asiedu ![]() | Report | Lasso ![]() Guenzatti ![]() | Stadium: BBVA Field Referee: Chris Ruska |
North Carolina FC v Birmingham Legion
August 1 4 | North Carolina FC | 1–0 | Birmingham Legion | Cary, NC |
6:00 PM CDT | Donovan ![]() Fortune ![]() ![]() Kristo ![]() | Report | Akinyode ![]() Brett ![]() | Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Referee: Kevin Broadley |
Birmingham Legion v Charlotte Independence
August 5 5 | Birmingham Legion | 4–1 | Charlotte Independence | Birmingham, AL |
7:00 PM CDT | Dean ![]() Brett ![]() ![]() Lapa ![]() | Report | Vadalá ![]() Martínez ![]() | Stadium: BBVA Field Referee: Matthew Thompson |
Birmingham Legion v Atlanta United 2
August 8 6 | Birmingham Legion | 1–0 | Atlanta United 2 | Birmingham, AL |
6:30 PM CDT | A. Crognale ![]() Kasim ![]() | Report | Jadama ![]() | Stadium: BBVA Field Referee: Muhammad Hassan |
North Carolina FC v Birmingham Legion
August 12 7 | North Carolina FC | 1–1 | Birmingham Legion | Matthews, NC |
6:00 PM CDT | Etou ![]() Kelly ![]() | Report | Lopez ![]() ![]() E. Crognale ![]() Kasim ![]() Asiedu ![]() ![]() | Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews Referee: John Matto |
North Carolina FC v Birmingham Legion
August 15 8 | North Carolina FC | 0–2 | Birmingham Legion | Cary, NC |
7:30 PM CDT | Donovan ![]() | Report | Servania ![]() Brett ![]() A. Crognale ![]() Akinyode ![]() Van Oekel ![]() Lopez ![]() | Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Referee: Matthew Franz |
Birmingham Legion v Memphis 901 FC
August 22 9 | Birmingham Legion | 2–2 | Memphis 901 FC | Birmingham, AL |
6:30 PM CDT | Lapa ![]() Asiedu ![]() Akinyode ![]() Brett ![]() | Report | Mentzingen ![]() ![]() Marsh-Brown ![]() ![]() Gonzalez ![]() Hague ![]() | Stadium: BBVA Field Referee: Muhammad Hassan |
Charlotte Independence v Birmingham Legion
August 29 10 | Charlotte Independence | 1–4 | Birmingham Legion | Matthews, NC |
6:00 PM CDT | Etou ![]() Kelly ![]() | Report | A. Crognale ![]() Servania ![]() Brett ![]() ![]() E. Crognale ![]() ![]() Asiedu ![]() Wright ![]() ![]() | Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews Referee: Sergii Demianchuk |
Birmingham Legion v North Carolina FC
September 2 11 | Birmingham Legion | 1–2 | North Carolina FC | Birmingham, AL |
7:00 PM CDT | Kobayashi ![]() Kasim ![]() Brett ![]() | Report | Albadawi ![]() Fortune ![]() | Stadium: BBVA Field Referee: Lukasz Szpala |
Memphis 901 v Birmingham Legion
September 5 12 | Memphis 901 | 1–1 | Birmingham Legion | Memphis, TN |
7:00 PM CDT | Baxter ![]() Marsh-Brown ![]() Metzger ![]() ![]() | Report | E. Crognale ![]() Lapa ![]() ![]() | Stadium: AutoZone Park Referee: Jervis Atagana |
Birmingham Legion v Charlotte Independence
September 12 13 | Birmingham Legion | 1–3 | Charlotte Independence | Birmingham, AL |
6:30 PM CDT | Brett ![]() Asiedu ![]() ![]() | Report | Kelly ![]() ![]() ![]() Etou ![]() Lacroix ![]() Gebhard ![]() Johnson ![]() ![]() | Stadium: BBVA Field Referee: Matthew Thompson |
Miami FC v Birmingham Legion
September 16 14 | Miami FC | 0–4 | Birmingham Legion | Miami, FL |
6:30 PM CDT | Rozeboom ![]() | Report | Brett ![]() ![]() Dean ![]() A. Crognale ![]() ![]() | Stadium: Riccardo Silva Stadium Referee: Alyssa Nichols |
Birmingham Legion v North Carolina FC
September 26 15 | Birmingham Legion | 1–2 | North Carolina FC | Birmingham, AL |
6:30 PM CDT | Cromwell ![]() Servania ![]() Williams ![]() | Report | Perez ![]() ![]() Fortune ![]() Kristo ![]() | Stadium: BBVA Field Referee: Jonathan Bilinski |
Memphis 901 v Birmingham Legion
October 3 16 | Memphis 901 | 3–1 | Birmingham Legion | Memphis, TN |
7:00 PM CDT | Jennings ![]() ![]() ![]() Muckette ![]() Marsh-Brown ![]() | Report | A. Crognale ![]() Lopez ![]() Lapa ![]() Williams ![]() | Stadium: AutoZone Park Attendance: 901 Referee: Ben Meyer |
USL Cup Playoffs
Tampa Bay Rowdies v Birmingham Legion
October 10 Conf. Quarterfinals | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 4–2 | Birmingham Legion | St. Petersburg, FL |
6:30 PM CDT | Doherty ![]() Guenzatti ![]() Mkosana ![]() Fernandes ![]() | Report | Crognale ![]() Lopez ![]() Williams ![]() Kasim ![]() Lapa ![]() Cromwell ![]() | Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 1,098 Referee: Eric Tattersall |
U.S. Open Cup
As a USL Championship club, Birmingham will enter the competition in the Second Round, to be played April 7–9.[5]
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
v
Birmingham Legion
![Tennessee](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/Flag_of_Tennessee.svg/23px-Flag_of_Tennessee.svg.png)
![Alabama](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Flag_of_Alabama.svg/23px-Flag_of_Alabama.svg.png)
April 7 2nd Round | Chattanooga Red Wolves SC ![]() | P–P | ![]() | Chattanooga, TN |
7:00 PM CDT | Stadium: Chattanooga Christian School | |||
Note: Match postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic[6] |
References
- ^ Humphries, Clayton (December 14, 2018). "Inaugural Legion FC match set for March 9, 2019". BHMLegion.com. Birmingham Legion FC. Archived from the original on February 17, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
- ^ "USL Championship Unveils 2020 Schedule". Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- ^ "Birmingham Legion roster". BHMLegion.com. Birmingham Legion FC. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
- ^ "Legion FC Releases New 2020 USL Championship Schedule". bhmlegion.com. July 7, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ "Restructured Competition Format For 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Provides Opportunity For More "David vs. Goliath" Matchups In 107th Edition Of U.S. Soccer's National Championship". U.S. Soccer Federation. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
- ^ "U.S. Soccer Temporarily Suspends 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Due to COVID-19 Outbreak". ussoccer.com. March 13, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2020.