Birmingham Legion came into their match with Indy Eleven with the momentum of back-to-back away wins.

But for the second time in the last three home games, the Three Sparks failed to score a goal and fell 1-0 to the visiting team.

As has been common this season, Legion struggled in the first half before showing improvement after the break. But a goal conceded early in that first period was enough to settle the score in Indy Eleven’s favor.

Just four minutes into the game, the visitors found space down the left flank and sent in a cross. Erik Centeno cleared it but only as far as the edge of the box, where it found the onrushing Cameron Lindley. The Indy midfielder sent a first-time daisy-cutter into the bottom corner of Matt van Oekel’s goal to open the scoring three minutes and forty seconds into the game.

Birmingham struggled to respond, with their first real chance waiting until the 17th minute. Tyler Pasher ran onto an Enzo Martínez through ball, but is shot was parried out for a corner.

Martínez was then on the end of another through ball into the box, this one by Danny Trejo, in the 33rd minute. The pass was just too heavy for the Uruguayan midfielder, who could not prevent it going out for a goal kick.

As the halftime whistle blew, neither side had truly threatened the opposite goalkeeper since the early opener.

Mark Briggs made two halftime changes as Legion looked to get back into the game, bringing on both Roman Torres and Kobe Hernandez-Foster for Sam McIllhaton and Edwin Laszo in midfield. The change brought renewed energy, a common theme in Legion’s second halves this season, but no goals to show for it.

Birmingham’s best spell came just before the hour mark. The team started attempting more vertical passes, and it nearly paid off in the 55th minute. Martínez found Trejo on the edge of the box, but the Mexican forward misshit the ball and it sailed harmlessly wide.

Just a minute later, Ronaldo Damus got the team’s best effort yet. The Haitian forward, on a two-game scoring streak, took a perfect first touch to spin into the top of the box and set up a shot. He rifled his attempt towards the bottom corner, but it clattered off the post.

The game stopped a few minutes later due to offensive language shouted from in the stands. After a substantial pause where the referee conversed with both teams, play was allowed to resume.

The break in play had no impact on the game’s momentum. Legion continued to do most of the attacking, but with no rewards to show for it.

Damus went close with a shot from a crossing position in the 71st, before Preston Tabort Etaka forced two fairly comfortable saves by the Indy keeper shortly after coming on.

The biggest chance of the game fell to Tiago Suárez in the 86th minute. As the Three Sparks continued to push for an equalizer, they sent the 6’5″ centerback forward to use as an aerial target. It nearly worked, as Centeno found him completely free with a cross from the right flank, but the young defender missed the connection on the header to sent the ball wide of the frame.

Despite seven minutes of added time, the home team could not muster an equalizer.

After coming away with a win in Tulsa despite facing 27 shots to their eight, Birmingham were on the opposite side of a similar situation in their return home. The Three Sparks had 19 attempts, five of them on target, but could not find the back of the net.

Indy, in contrast, registered just four shots. Their only one on frame resulted in the all-important goal.

With no game this weekend, Briggs will have plenty of time to address his team’s shortcomings before their next outing. If the Black and Gold are to get anything from their upcoming trip to Kentucky, they will have to quickly find an answer to their underwhelming first half performances.

Birmingham Legion are back in action at 7 p.m. June 14 against Louisville City FC.

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