2024 Birmingham Legion FC season
| 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) | ||
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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
[edit]Roster
[edit]- As of July 24, 2024[2]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Competitions
[edit]Preseason
[edit]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 | Chattanooga FC | 0–3 | Birmingham Legion | Chattanooga, Tennessee |
| 2:00 p.m. | Preston  18' 46' Pasher 26' (pen.) |
Report | Stadium: Finley Stadium |
USL Championship
[edit]Standings
[edit]| 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 | |
| 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
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
[edit]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 1 | Phoenix Rising FC | 0–1 | Birmingham Legion | Phoenix, Arizona |
| 9:30 pm | Report | Stadium: Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium Attendance: 8,187 Referee: Elvis Osmanovic |
| March 23, 2024 2 | Hartford Athletic | 1–0 | Birmingham Legion | Hartford, Connecticut |
| 2:00 pm | Report | Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium Attendance: 2,969 Referee: Greg Dopka |
| March 30, 2024 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 Eric Burton Fourth official: Shawn Westerfield |
| April 7, 2024 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 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 6 | Miami FC | 0–1 | Birmingham Legion | Miami, Florida |
| 7:00 pm | Report |
|
Stadium: Riccardo Silva Stadium Attendance: 1,092 Referee:  Lorenzo Hernandez |
| April 27, 2024 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 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 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 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 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 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 13 | Birmingham Legion | 0–1 | Indy Eleven | Birmingham, Alabama |
| 7:00 pm | Report |
|
Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 5,147 Referee: Natalie Simon |
| June 19, 2024 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 15 | Detroit City FC | 1–2 | Birmingham Legion | Hamtramack, Michigan |
| 7:00 pm |
|
Report | Stadium: Keyworth Stadium Attendance: 6,244 Referee: Abdou Ndiaye |
| June 29, 2024 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 Sarah Gaddes Fourth official: Joshua Belk |
| July 6, 2024 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 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 Referee: Adam Kilpatrick |
| July 17, 2024 19 | Birmingham Legion | 1–3 | Rhode Island FC | Birmingham, Alabama |
| 8:00 pm | Report | Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 4,136 Referee: Benjamin Meyer |
| July 20, 2024 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 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 Referee: Matthew Thompson |
| August 3, 2024 22 | Birmingham Legion FC | 2–2 | Hartford Athletic | Birmingham, Alabama |
| 7:30 pm | Report | Stadium: Protective Stadium Referee: Corbyn May |
| August 10, 2024 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 24 | Birmingham Legion FC | 0–1 | Detroit City FC | Birmingham, Alabama |
| 8:00 pm |
|
Report | Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 4,123 Referee: Calin Radosav |
| August 24, 2024 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 Referee: Gerald Flores |
| August 31, 2024 26 | Rhode Island FC | 2–0 | Birmingham Legion | Smithfield, Rhode Island |
| 4:00 pm | Report | 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 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 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 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 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 Referee: Alejo Calume |
| October 13, 2023 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 33 | Indy Eleven | 3–2 | Birmingham Legion | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| 7:00 pm |
|
Report | Stadium: IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium Attendance: 10,540 Referee: Matthew Corrigan |
| October 14, 2023 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
[edit]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 |
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Report | 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 | Report | Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 2,195 Referee: Alyssa Nichols |
References
[edit]- ^ "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.