After 10 consecutive games without tasting success, the wait is finally over.
Birmingham Legion defeated Loudoun United 1-0, courtesy of an AJ Paterson penalty kick, to claim only their fifth league win of the season and first since July 11.
While the result keeps the Three Sparks mathematically alive, games to come later this weekend could still officially end their season.
Mark Briggs named a nearly unchanged starting lineup to that which drew with North Carolina in midweek. Jackson Travis, who missed out on that game, was the only change, coming in for Dawson McCartney in a like-for-like swap.
Loudoun came in off a longer rest, and it showed in the early minutes. The hosts started on the front foot and won a free-kick mere seconds into the game. Two corner kicks followed and Fernando Delgado made his first save in the third minute of the game.
Loudoun continued to dominate the first quarter, taking a shot at goal every other minute for the first 10. But a forced substitution on the 10-minute mark, and then another on the 25th, forced the home team to reorganize and lose some of that rhythm.
Birmingham Legion took advantage just before the half-hour mark.
AJ Paterson sent a long ball over the top for Tyler Pasher to run onto, and the Canadian brought in down before charging on goal. After skipping inside of Loudoun’s Robby Dambrot, the forward drew a penalty. Paterson stepped up to the spot and converted it in emphatic fashion for just the second goal of his Legion career.
Birmingham did well to maintain their lead for the remainder of the half, showing defensive discipline and solidity they too often lacked this season to limit Loudoun’s clear cut chances. Only in first-half stoppage time did the hosts get a truly big chance as a free-kick deflected over Delgado, but Stephen Turnbull was there at the back post to make a crucial clearance and deny the equalizer.
Despite the 1-0 halftime lead, the Three Sparks were unlikely to feel comfortable at the break. In the last five games, Legion twice led 1-0 after 45 minutes only to throw it away early in the second period.
The Black and Gold had actually won just one game out of eight where they scored first (the late win over Sacramento Republic) and lead the USL Championship in points dropped from winning positions (22).
But this time, they stood firm.
Peter-Lee Vassell had a golden opportunity to double his side’s lead early in the second half after stealing the ball off a Loudoun midfielder. Spotting the goalkeeper way off his line, the Jamaica international attempted to chip him from distance but overhit his attempt and sent it well over.
Vassell got another chance just over five minutes later after great work from Jackson Travis down the left wing. The wing-back’s cutback fell to Vassell on the edge of the box, but his short unfortunately hit a teammate, Ronaldo Damus, and deflected away.
Chances became rare for Birmingham by the hour mark as they retreated further back and Loudoun pushed for the equalizer. Phanuel Kavita made a goal-denying block after an attacker rounded Delgado in the 64th minute and Briggs soon made a double change with defense in mind, brining on Jake Rufe and Edwin Laszo for Vassell and Sam McIllhatton.
Birmingham had to stand firm as Loudoun threw everything at them, but a combination of good defending and strong saves by Delgado preserved the clean sheet.
One of the young goalkeeper’s biggest saves came in the 85th minute and led to a counter for his side. Damus found substitute Preston Tabort Etaka, who moved it on to Rufe for a clear shot at goal only for Loudoun’s Hugo Fauroux to come up with a massive save of his own.
Not to be outdone, Delgado made his own one-on-one block moments later as the game ticked into four minutes of stoppage time. The youngster ended the night with six saves to claim just the third clean sheet of his Birmingham career.
Loudoun threw everyone, including Fauroux forward for a last-minute corner in the 94th minute. But after Birmingham cleared, Zach Ryan brought Damus down on the halfway line for a denial of a clear goal scoring opportunity given the goalkeeper was in the opposite box.
Ryan received his marching order, and the game ended soon after.
The win was just the fifth league success of Birmingham season’s, eighth overall, but gave some hope for better heading into the offseason. After struggling defensively for much of the year, the team has now kept back-to-back clean sheets in away games — after recording none prior to the San Antonio draw — all while sticking with the same backline of Delgado, Turnbull, Kavita and Paterson.
The Three Sparks now head into a bye week just as Kavita, Paterson and Ramiz Hamouda fly off to international duty. All three should be back by the time Legion return to the field for their final home game of the season, at 7 p.m. October 19 against Miami FC.
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