BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alex Tambakis produced a penalty kick save in second-half stoppage time to preserve a 2-1 victory for North Carolina FC against Birmingham Legion FC at BBVA Field, breaking a three-game losing streak for the visitors as it gave its postseason chances another boost.

Following the opening minutes of the contest, between 7:00 and 8:46 of the match, players from both sides came together at the center circle, united against racism, and in support of equality, diversity and compassion.

In the game, North Carolina produced the first good chance from a corner kick in the 17th minute after a quiet start from both sides. A delivery by Dre Fortune from the right found Marios Lomis for a header, but Birmingham’s Prosper Kasim was ideally placed on the post to clear the ball to safety.

The visitors took the lead seven minutes later, though, as Hadji Barry broke into space down the left side to track down a pass by D.J. Taylor, and after holding up play for a moment, Barry passed back to the top of the penalty area where Nazmi Albadawi was on hand to hit a first-time shot that took a slight deflection on its way to the bottom-left corner of the net.

Legion FC had a chance in first-half stoppage time to pull back on level terms as Kasim’s free kick from the right was headed just over the crossbar by Bruno Lapa at the top of the six-yard area. Fourteen minutes into the second half, however, as Kasim and fellow Ghanaian Razak Cromwell combined beautifully for an equalizer. Kasim slipped a pass through two defenders into the left side of the penalty area for an overlapping Cromwell, and then set up 13 yards from goal to receive a return pass that Cromwell duly delivered, allowing Kasim to shoot first time into the right corner.

North Carolina wasn’t pegged back for long. A little more than 90 seconds after his goal, Kasim was whistled for bringing down NCFC’s Fortune in the right side of the penalty area. Fortune stepped up and fired his shot down the middle of the goal as Birmingham goalkeeper Parker Ford dove early to the left, allowing the visitors to quickly regain their advantage.

Chances were few after NCFC went back ahead, but Birmingham had one final chance in stoppage time to grab a point when Jonathan Dean’s cross was ruled to have been handled by North Carolina defender Sam Brotherton. Legion FC’s Neco Brett stepped up to the spot, but his shot to the left side was close enough for Tambakis to save before his defense cleared to safety, locking up all three points.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Dre Fortune, North Carolina FC – Fortune scored once, had two key passes and completed 27 of 32 passes overall in a key road victory for NCFC against the Group G leaders.