July 16, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rhode Island FC News Release
After stretching its club-record unbeaten run to five matches and picking up its second-consecutive victory on the road in a 3-2 win vs. Miami FC, Rhode Island FC will work on a quick turnaround as it completes its road stretch with a midweek contest at Birmingham Legion FC on Wednesday. With both clubs coming off a win and looking to pick up valuable points as the second half of the USL Championship season is underway, here is everything you need to know about Wednesday’s nationally televised match.
AT A GLANCE
Date | Wednesday, July 17
Kickoff | 8:00 PM ET
Location | Protective Stadium, Birmingham, AL
Broadcast | CBS Sports Network
Social | @rhodeislandfc (X, Instagram, Facebook)
Match Hashtag | #BHMvRI
BIRMINGHAM LEGION FC
Roster
GOALKEEPERS (2): 1-Matt Van Oekel, 18-Trevor Spangenberg
DEFENDERS (6): 3-Phanuel Kavita, 4-Ramiz Hamouda, 13-Jake Rufe, 20-AJ Paterson, 21-Alex Crognale, 33-Moses Mensah
MIDFIELDERS (7): 5-Mikey Lopez, 8-Kobe Hernandez-Foster, 11-Dawson McCartney, 17-Matthew Corcoran, 19-Enzo Martinez, 28-Miguel Perez
FORWARDS (6): 7-Diba Nwegbo, 10-Prosper Kasim, 15-Tyler Pasher, 23-Preston Tabort Etaka, 29-Stefano Pinho, 77-Mohamed Buya Turay
Keep it Going
Birmingham Legion FC has picked up three of its eight wins this season in its last five matches, with seven different scorers combining for eight goals in that stretch, accounting for 40 percent of its goal scoring total this season. Two of those wins came in front of the home fans at Protective Stadium, including a 2-1 win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Saturday. In the win, which marked the sixth time the Alabama club has scored multiple goals in a match this season and the third time the squad has won after conceding first, a second goal of the season from Dawson McCartney and third of the year from veteran striker Stefano Pinho late in the match was enough to overcome an early 1-0 deficit to secure all three points. After scoring his first goal in more than two months, Pinho joined Tyler Pasher and Enzo Martinez at the top of the Birmingham scoring list with three apiece. Against RIFC, Birmingham will look for its third win in four home matches, and first stretch of back-to-back home wins all season.
Finding the Target
Despite sitting among the bottom eight clubs in the USL Championship this season with 20 goals scored through 18 matches, Birmingham is fifth in the league with 263 shots taken, proving that…