2023 Birmingham Legion FC season

Birmingham Legion FC
2023 season
President and; general manager	Jay Heaps
Head coach	Tom Soehn
Stadium	Protective Stadium
USL Championship	7th
Playoffs	Conference Semifinals
U.S. Open Cup	Quarter-finals
Top goalscorer	Enzo Martínez (11 goals)
	← 2022 2024 →

The 2023 Birmingham Legion season was the fifth season of play in the club's history in the USL Championship.

Squad information[edit]

Roster[edit]

As of March 9, 2023^[1]

No.	Pos.	Player	Nation
1	GK	Matt Van Oekel	United States
2	DF	Ben Reveno (on loan from New England Revolution)	United States
3	DF	Phanuel Kavita	DR Congo
4	DF	Collin Smith (on loan from FC Dallas)	United States
5	MF	Mikey Lopez	United States
6	MF	Anderson Asiedu	Ghana
7	FW	Diba Nwegbo	Nigeria
9	FW	Juan Agudelo	United States
10	FW	Prosper Kasim	Ghana
11	FW	Neco Brett	Jamaica
13	MF	Jake Rufe	United States
15	FW	Tyler Pasher	Canada
16	DF	Gabriel Alves	Brazil
17	MF	Matthew Corcoran	United States
18	GK	Trevor Spangenberg	United States
19	MF	Enzo Martínez	Uruguay
21	DF	Alex Crognale	United States
23	MF	Grayson Dupont	United States
30	GK	Seth Torman	United States
33	DF	Moses Mensah	Ghana

^
USL Academy contract

Competitions[edit]

Preseason[edit]

18 February 2023 (2023-02-18)	Charlotte FC	3–2	Birmingham Legion FC	Charlotte, North Carolina
	Jóźwiak 11' Świderski 26' Copetti 34'	Report		Stadium: Bank of America Stadium

USL Championship[edit]

Eastern Conference[edit]

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
5	Louisville City FC	34	14	12	8	41	44	−3	50	Playoffs
6	Indy Eleven	34	13	11	10	46	38	+8	49
7	Birmingham Legion FC	34	14	16	4	44	53	−9	46
8	Detroit City FC	34	11	15	8	30	39	−9	41
9	Miami FC	34	11	15	8	43	44	−1	41

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

Regular season[edit]

All times in Eastern Time Zone.

11 March 2023 (2023-03-11) 1	Birmingham Legion	1–1	Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC	Birmingham, Alabama
6:30 p.m.	Crognale 6', 28' Asiedu 23'	Report	Forbes 41' Mertz 72'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 6,722 Referee: Sergii Demianchuk

17 March 2023 (2023-03-17) 2	Birmingham Legion	3–2	FC Tulsa	Birmingham, Alabama
7:00 p.m.	Pasher 4', 83' Gabriel Alves 51' Crognale 65' Asiedu 75' Brett 90+2'	Report	da Costa 49' Corrales 45+1' Epps 54' Fernandez 82'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 4,077 Referee: Elvis Osmanovic

25 March 2023 (2023-03-25) 3	Hartford Athletic	0–1	Birmingham Legion	Hartford, Connecticut
1:00 p.m.	Kibato 42' Merrill 70' Logue 90+2'	Report	Gabriel Alves 24' Agudelo 45+5'	Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium Attendance: 3,106 Referee: DeShun Beard

1 April 2023 (2023-04-01) 4	Tampa Bay Rowdies	0–2	Birmingham Legion	St. Petersburg, Florida
6:30 p.m.	Lasso 59' Guillen 90+1' Dennis 90+5'	Report	Brett 45+5', 83' Smith 50' Kavita 76' Agudelo 78' Gabriel Alves 89'	Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 6,397 Referee: Thomas Snyder

9 April 2023 (2023-04-09) 5	Birmingham Legion	1–2	Phoenix Rising FC	Birmingham, Alabama
4:30 p.m.	Agudelo 56' Gabriel Alves 59' Martínez 59'	Report	Lambert 34' Cuello 39' Krutzen 45+2' Arteaga 56' Trejo 58', 90' Harvey 66', 87' Zambrano 67' Njie 77' Fuenmayor 89'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 4,750 Referee: John Griggs

15 April 2023 (2023-04-15) 6	Loudoun United FC	3–0	Birmingham Legion	Leesburg, Virginia
5:00 p.m.	Leggett 32' ElMedkhar 42' Houssou 50' Ryan 69', 90+4'	Report	Rufe 54'	Stadium: Segra Field Attendance: 2,505 Referee: Luis Arroyo

22 April 2023 (2023-04-22) 7	Orange County SC	1–2	Birmingham Legion	Irvine, California
9:00 p.m.	Nielsen 30' Scott 55' Partida 57'	Report	Agudelo 33' Kavita 40' Crognale 53' Martínez 59', 64'	Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 4,114 Referee: Elvis Osmanovic

30 April 2023 (2023-04-30) 8	Birmingham Legion	3–2	Hartford Athletic	Birmingham, Alabama
4:00 p.m.	Asiedu 45' Martínez 64', 65', 76' Crognale 90+3'	Report	Cedeno 38', 60' Lewis 45+4' Edwards 67' Sánchez 89'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 4,813 Referee: Greg Dopka

3 May 2023 (2023-05-03) 9	Miami FC	3–1	Birmingham Legion	Miami
6:00 p.m.	Sorto 2', 56' Crognale 16' (o.g.) Repetto 49' Dowouna 71'	Report	Corcoran 34' Martínez 36' Asiedu 81' Gabriel Alves 90+4'	Stadium: Riccardo Silva Stadium Attendance: 1,070 Referee: Sergii Demianchuk

6 May 2023 (2023-05-06) 10	Birmingham Legion	1–4	Oakland Roots SC	Birmingham, Alabama
6:30 p.m.	Lopez 6' Kavita 35' Martínez 48', 82' Gabriel Alves 62' Van Oekel 77'	Report	Formella 45+3' (pen.) Wright 47' Mfeka 64', 67' Reid 71' Rito 83' Diaz 87' Rodriguez 88'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Referee: Sergii Boiko

13 May 2023 (2023-05-13) 11	Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC	2–1	Birmingham Legion	Pittsburgh
6:00 p.m.	Dikwa 11', 70' Dossantos 53'	Report	Corcoran 35', 64' Mensah 69' Gabriel Alves 83' Reveno 90+3'	Stadium: Highmark Stadium Attendance: 5,123 Referee: Adam Kilpatrick

20 May 2023 (2023-05-20) 12	Birmingham Legion	1–2	El Paso Locomotive FC	Birmingham, Alabama
6:30 p.m.	Agudelo 17' Asiedu 55'	Report	Solignac 19' Rose 58'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Referee: Matthew Thompson

27 May 2023 (2023-05-27) 13	Detroit City FC	1–0	Birmingham Legion	Hamtramck, Michigan
3:00 p.m.	Rodriguez 29' Williams 68' Matthews 82' Amoo-Mensah 90+3'	Report	Mensah 28' Lopez 35' Smith 44' Dupont 90'	Stadium: Keyworth Stadium Attendance: 6,164 Referee: Melvin Rivas

17 June 2023 (2023-06-17) 14	Birmingham Legion	2–1	Indy Eleven	Birmingham, Alabama
6:30 p.m.	Gabriel Alves 21' Nwegbo 55' Crognale 62' Asiedu 64' Martínez 89'	Report	Boudadi 8' Vázquez 24' Guenzatti 56'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Referee: Olvin Oliva

21 June 2023 (2023-06-21) 15	Birmingham Legion	2–0	Loudoun United FC	Birmingham, Alabama
7:00 p.m.	Nwegbo 34' Agudelo 58' Gabriel Alves 75' Brett 83'	Report		Stadium: Protective Stadium Referee: Lorenzo Hernandez

1 July 2023 (2023-07-01) 16	San Antonio FC	3–1	Birmingham Legion	San Antonio
8:00 p.m.	Hernandez 10' Azócar 29' Oluwaseyi 62' Bailone 86' Dhillon 90+1'	Report	Gabriel Alves 53' Crognale 66' Martínez 70' Pasher 81' Asiedu 89'	Stadium: Toyota Field Attendance: 8,266 Referee: Natalie Simon

8 July 2023 (2023-07-08) 17	Las Vegas Lights FC	3–3	Birmingham Legion	Las Vegas
9:30 p.m.	Preston 60' Carleton 67' Botello Faz 90+3'	Report	Agudelo 31' Pasher 45' Martínez 81' Kavita 90+5'	Stadium: Cashman Field Referee: Brad Jensen

15 July 2023 (2023-07-15) 18	Birmingham Legion	1–0	Tampa Bay Rowdies	Birmingham, Alabama
6:30 p.m.	Martínez 49', 83' Asiedu 53' Smith 83'	Report	Guillén 89'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Referee: Brandon Stevis

22 July 2023 (2023-07-22) 19	Louisville City FC	1–2	Birmingham Legion	Louisville, Kentucky
7:00 p.m.	Mares 34', 70' McCabe 58' Ownby 67'	Report	Smith 14' Crognale 19', 90+2' Agudelo 55' Rufe 77'	Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium Attendance: 9,584 Referee: Abdou Ndiaye

29 July 2023 (2023-07-29) 20	Birmingham Legion	1–2	Charleston Battery	Birmingham, Alabama
6:30 p.m.	Crognale 25' Gabriel Alves 38' Kasim 43' Mensah 68'	Report	Markanich 18' Palma 48' Trager 82' Dodson 90+1'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Referee: Matt Thompson

4 August 2023 (2023-08-04) 21	Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC	2–1	Birmingham Legion	Colorado Springs, Colorado
8:00 p.m.	Beckford 11' Tejada 84'	Report	Brett 58' Nwegbo 90+5'	Stadium: Weidner Field Attendance: 8,023 Referee: Natalie Simon

9 August 2023 (2023-08-09) 22	Indy Eleven	4–0	Birmingham Legion	Indianapolis
6:00 p.m.	Guenzatti 24', 63' Martínez 41', 65' Molina 89'	Report	Martínez 48' Nwegbo 49' Brett 61' Smith 90+1'	Stadium: Michael A. Carroll Stadium Attendance: 7,194 Referee: Adam Kilpatrick

12 August 2023 (2023-08-12) 23	Birmingham Legion	1–1	Sacramento Republic FC	Birmingham, Alabama
6:30 p.m.	Corcoran 34' Mensah 48' Smith 64' Crognale 75'	Report	Archimède 83' Donovan 89' López 90+5'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Referee: Gerald Flores

19 August 2023 (2023-08-19) 24	Birmingham Legion	2–0	Louisville City FC	Birmingham, Alabama
5:30 p.m.	Martínez 5' Brett 24' (pen.) Crognale 46' Mensah 81'	Report	Jimenez 45+4' Lancaster 59' Charpie 90+6'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Referee: Matthew Corrigan

23 August 2023 (2023-08-23) 25	FC Tulsa	1–3	Birmingham Legion	Tulsa, Oklahoma
7:00 p.m.	Goodrum 14', 53' Nelson 18'	Report	Brett 19' (pen.), 21', 33' Agudelo 89'	Stadium: Oneok Field Attendance: 3,927 Referee: Calin Radosav

27 August 2023 (2023-08-27) 26	Birmingham Legion	2–3	Detroit City FC	Birmingham, Alabama
4:00 p.m.	Brett 29' (pen.) Martínez 38' (pen.) Mensah 48' Lopez 66'	Report	Morris 31', 44' Kavita 45' (o.g.)	Stadium: Protective Stadium Referee: Greg Dopka

3 September 2023 (2023-09-03) 27	San Diego Loyal SC	3–0	Birmingham Legion	San Diego
5:00 p.m.	Bodily 18' Moshobane 39' Martin 69', 84'	Report	Nwegbo 20' Mensah 70'	Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 4,224 Referee: Joshua Encarnación

10 September 2023 (2023-09-10) 28	Birmingham Legion	1–0	New Mexico United	Birmingham, Alabama
4:00 p.m.	Mensah 46' Brett 73'	Report		Stadium: Protective Stadium Referee: Jeremy Scheer

17 September 2023 (2023-09-17) 29	Rio Grande Valley FC Toros	1–0	Birmingham Legion	Edinburg, Texas
7:00 p.m.	Cerro 22' López 49'	Report	Lopez 34' Corcoran 42' Kasim 71' Mensah 89'	Stadium: H-E-B Park Attendance: 3,705 Referee: Alexis Da Silva

20 September 2023 (2023-09-20) 30	Birmingham Legion	1–1	Memphis 901 FC	Birmingham, Alabama
7:00 p.m.	Kasim 48' Crognale 55' Agudelo 90'	Report	McFadden 52' Peters 71'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Referee: Matthew Corrigan

24 September 2023 (2023-09-24) 31	Birmingham Legion	0–2	Miami FC	Birmingham, Alabama
5:30 p.m.	Lopez 19'	Report	Valot 22' Ofeimu 35', 41' Telfer 77' Murphy 84'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Referee: Abdou Ndiaye

30 September 2023 (2023-09-30) 32	Memphis 901 FC	1–2	Birmingham Legion	Memphis, Tennessee
7:00 p.m.	Molloy 13' Ward 28' Rodrigo 40' (pen.)	Report	Nwegbo 46' Brett 51' Martínez 57' Agudelo 90+8'	Stadium: AutoZone Park Referee: Alejo Calume

8 October 2023 (2023-10-08) 33	Birmingham Legion	2–0	Monterey Bay FC	Birmingham, Alabama
4:00 p.m.	Martínez 24' Tabortetaka 28' Agudelo 46', 60' Crognale 52' Kasim 73' Smith 80'	Report	Okoli 36'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 6,329 Referee: Elvis Osmanovic

14 October 2023 (2023-10-14) 34	Charleston Battery	1–0	Birmingham Legion	Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
4:00 p.m.	Markanich 33' Segbers 64' Rodríguez 67' Muse 86'	Report	Pasher 60' Kavita 64' Rufe 64'	Stadium: Patriots Point Soccer Complex Attendance: 3,265 Referee: Austin Saini

Playoffs[edit]

Conference Quarter-finals[edit]

October 21, 2023 (2023-10-21)	Birmingham Legion	3–0	Tampa Bay Rowdies	St. Petersburg, Florida
7:30 PM EDT	Martínez 9' Preston 41' Nwegbo 57' Kasim 77'	Report	Lasso 39' Jennings 45+1'	Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 5,249 Referee: Matthew Thompson

Conference Semifinals[edit]

October 28, 2023 (2023-10-28)	Charleston Battery	2–1	Birmingham Legion	Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
7:00 PM EDT	Ycaza 17' Dodson 68'	Report	Kasim 41' Agudelo 61' Rufe 70' Lopez 86'	Stadium: Patriots Point Soccer Complex Attendance: 2,762 Referee: Elton Garcia

U.S. Open Cup[edit]

Second round[edit]

5 April 2023 (2023-04-05)	Chattanooga Red Wolves SC	1–4	Birmingham Legion	East Ridge, Tennessee
7:30 p.m. EDT	Lombardi 79'	Report	Agudelo 45+1', 63' Smith 47' Nwegbo 87'	Stadium: CHI Memorial Stadium Attendance: 500 Referee: Benjamin Meyer

Third round[edit]

26 April 2023 (2023-04-26)	Birmingham Legion	1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–3 p)	Chattanooga FC	Tuscaloosa, Alabama
7:00 p.m. CDT	Kasim 31'	Report	Naglestad 68' (pen.)	Stadium: University of Alabama Soccer Stadium Attendance: 150 Referee: Abdou Ndiaye
	Penalties
	Pasher Agudelo Gabriel Alves Rufe Martínez		Naglestad Dixon Prepeliță Mwape Alvarenga

Round of 32[edit]

10 May 2023 (2023-05-10)	Birmingham Legion	3–0	Memphis 901 FC	Birmingham, Alabama
7:00 p.m. CDT	Agudelo 20' Martínez 39' Pasher 64'	Report		Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 3,150 Referee: Lorenzo Hernandez

Round of 16[edit]

24 May 2023 (2023-05-24)	Birmingham Legion	1–0	Charlotte FC	Birmingham, Alabama
7:00 p.m. CDT	Kasim 60'	Report	Malanda 28' 51'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 12,722 Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.

Quarter-finals[edit]

7 June 2023 (2023-06-07)	Birmingham Legion	0–1	Inter Miami CF	Birmingham, Alabama
7:00 p.m. CDT		Report	Stefanelli 56'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 18,418 Referee: Sergii Demianchuk

References[edit]

^ "Team Roster". BHMLegion.com. Birmingham Legion FC. Retrieved July 8, 2021.

[cnote_A_grp_1] 
USL Academy contract

[1] "Team Roster". BHMLegion.com. Birmingham Legion FC. Retrieved July 8, 2021.

[1]

v t e 2023 USL Championship season
Playoffs
Eastern	Birmingham Legion Charleston Battery Detroit City FC FC Tulsa Hartford Athletic Indy Eleven Loudoun United Louisville City Memphis 901 Miami FC Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Tampa Bay Rowdies
Western	Colorado Springs Switchbacks El Paso Locomotive Las Vegas Lights Monterey Bay FC New Mexico United Oakland Roots Orange County SC Phoenix Rising RGVFC Toros Sacramento Republic San Antonio FC San Diego Loyal