October 9, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Birmingham Legion FC News Release
BIRMINGHAM, AL – Legion FC lost to San Antonio FC, 2-1, in a tight, end-to-end match that ended with San Antonio, the league leaders, scoring a late winner in the 84th minute on Sunday afternoon at Protective Stadium.
After Legion FC opened the match with a few quality scoring chances, forward Marlon Santos converted a penalty kick in the 19th minute thanks to a thunderous shot down the middle from the spot. Midfielder Anderson Asiedu earned the penalty after being fouled while attempting a shot just inside the top of the box.
San Antonio responded 20 minutes later to tie it up, scoring off a long bit of build-up play that led to Ignacio Bailone using his head to flick the ball past Legion’s Goalkeeper Matt VanOekel after a cross from Fabien Garcia.
Halftime ended 1-1, after a couple incredible, diving saves from VanOekel. The score would remain, and play would remain even for the most part, until the 84th minute when San Antonio’s Santiago Patino found the back of the net for the final scoreline.
“I think we could have showed a bit better composure keeping the ball, and that puts you in their part of the field,” said Head Coach Tommy Soehn. “So, I was disappointed in our possession, and you know, I credit [San Antonio], that’s their philosophy of how to play and they make it hard on teams and they made it hard on us.
Obviously, it hurts not to get this one, but thankfully we control our own destiny in the next game [on Wednesday night]. We gotta win and then we get our home [playoff] game.”
The Three Sparks led in expected goals, with 1.24 to San Antonio’s 1.17, and the home side also led in possession (55%), passes (338), and passing accuracy (66.9%), but could not find the winner past the league’s best defense.
Tonight’s loss means the Legion’s hopes for a home game in the first round of the USL Championship playoffs come down to the last match of the season on Wednesday, October 12 against Indy Eleven. A win against Indy would guarantee Birmingham a home playoff game, but a draw or loss could deny them a home playoff game depending on results from the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Detroit City FC.
“We gotta take it as a final,” said midfielder Mikey Lopez when asked about the regular season finale on Wednesday. “It is what it is. We need to get back to winning ways, and I think if we win on Wednesday we’ll use that momentum for the playoffs, so we gotta lock in….