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USL Birmingham Legion FC

Legion FC Knocked out of the US Open Cup by South Georgia Tormenta FC

April 19, 2022 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Birmingham Legion FC News Release


BIRMINGHAM, AL - Birmingham Legion FC was knocked out of the 107th edition of the U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday night by USL League One side South Georgia Tormenta FC. Two goals from the visitors in the 33rd minute and then the 45th minute booked their place in the next round.

On another frustrating evening early in the season for the Black and Gold, Legion FC put up 20 shots, to Tormenta's seven, but shots on target ended equal at five a piece. Legion FC came out on the front foot to begin the game, at one point outshooting their opponents seven to one early in the contest.

Midfielder Bruno Lapa had a shot blocked inside the first five minutes, and then defender Jake Rufe got his head to the ensuing corner, but the shot was saved. Possibly the best chance of the game for Legion FC came in the 30th minute as Macky Diop was played in over the top by midfielder Enzo Martinez, but Diop was unable to get a shot off in the one-versus-one run at the 'keeper.

While chance after chance went begging for BHM, Tormenta FC capitalized on one of its first dangerous opportunities of the game, as they got the ball down the left side of the Legion FC box and swung a ball across to the far post. Goalkeeper Trevor Spangenberg dove and got a hand to it, but the rebound fell to South Georgia's Curtis Thorn, who buried it.

Legion FC responded with solid pressure again on the visitors after conceding, with Martinez and Lapa both getting shots off, that were blocked, but Tormenta FC added to its advantage right at the stroke of halftime as forward Jamil Roberts swung in a corner kick that looped up over everybody and was knocked in at the back post by defender Jake Dengler.

Birmingham made some attacking subs to start the second half, and got up another 10 shots, but were unable to find the back of the net on the evening.

"I just felt like they wanted it a little bit more than we did, and that's sad because we just dropped the game to Detroit," said Head Coach Tommy Soehn. "I thought we'd have a kick back the other way. If you're not going to show up and grind and be able to fight, then you're going to come out on the wrong side no matter who you play.

"We always have pressure on ourselves. I think it's disappointment right now. We're going to have to find a way to get through this stretch. There's stretches like this where you win and stretches like this when you lose. We're going to find a way to get out of it."

1st Half 2nd Half BHM 0 0 TOR 2 0

BHM - 3-4-2-1 - #18 Trevor Spangenberg; #13 Jake Rufe, #3 Phanuel Kavita ©, #27 Thomas Vancaeyezeele (46' - #21 Alex Crognale); #7 Ryan James (46' - #5 Mikey Lopez), #6 Anderson Asiedu, #10 Prosper Kasim, #24 Jonny Dean; #8 Bruno Lapa (46' - #11 Marlon Santos), #19 Enzo Martinez; #77 Macky Diop

TOR - 4-3-3 - #1 Pablo Jara; #23 Curtis Thorn, #25 Jake Dengler, #5 Josh Phelps, #12 Deshawon Nembhard; #8 Gabriel Cabral, #21 Chris Heckenberg, #47 Barry Sharifi (58' - #10 Adrian Billhardt); #11 Jamil Roberts (58' - #14 Alex Morrill), #7 Kingsford Adjei (71' - #3 Owen Green), #9 Kazaiah Sterling (58' - #27 Arthur Bosua)

Legion FC's next match is on the road at Loudoun United on Sunday, April 24 at 3:00pm CT and will air live on My68 and ESPN+!

The next home match for the Black and Gold will be on Wednesday, April 27, at 7:00PM CT against the Charleston Battery. Details about our new 'Everybody Wins on Wednesdays' campaign coming soon, so keep an eye out @bhmlegion on social, and get your tickets today!

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