SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio FC held off a strong challenge by Birmingham Legion FC to take a 2-1 victory on Saturday night at Toyota Field as Jordan Perruzza scored the winner late on and the visitors hit the woodwork twice in the first meeting between the clubs.

The hosts got off to a flying start as Jose Gallegos picked up possession on the left and drove at the defense before firing a shot that took a pair of deflections before landing perfectly for Santiago Patino to knock home the opening goal after just 40 seconds. Birmingham almost responded quickly as a free kick from the right was delivered to the top of the area for Eli Crognale to shoot, only for his low effort to come back off the left post and be cleared.

The sides exchanged chances soon after as Legion FC’s Bruno Lapa had a long-range effort comfortably saved by SAFC’s Matt Cardone, while Birmingham goalkeeper Matt VanOekel kept the ball out after it had caromed off teammate JJ Williams off a corner kick in the 19th minute. The visitors threatened again three minutes later as a long ball forward found Junior Flemmings on the left, but his shot from a tight angle flashed across the face of goal and wide of the right post.

Williams then hit the woodwork for a second time for Legion FC in the 24th minute as his shot from 16 yards took a slight deflection off a defender and then clipped the top of the crossbar before going behind. Birmingham was unable to find an equalizer before the break, however, and early in the second half Neco Brett sent a header wide of the right post as he headed back across goal off a cross from the right by Jonathan Dean.

San Antonio’s Marcus Epps almost doubled the lead for the hosts just before the hour-mark as he was played into the left side of the penalty area but was denied by VanOekel, while Emil Cuello had a shot a minute later deflect off one defender before being headed over the crossbar to safety by Legion FC’s Ryan James.

With nine minutes to go, however, the hosts found their second as a corner kick from the left was sent deep to the back post where it was headed back across goal by Mathieu Deplagne for recent loan arrival Perruzza to fire in a first-time finish into the left corner of the net.

Birmingham had a late chance to get back into the game as it moved into stoppage time when first Daigo Kobayashi’s long-range effort was parried by Cardone before the SAFC goalkeeper recovered to turn away James’ shot on the rebound. Patino then had a chance to add a third for the hosts, only to send his finish wide of the left post after a cross from the right before Legion FC found the net in the fourth minute of stoppage time through Brett, whose headed finish from close range provided some tense closing minutes. There was no late equalizer for the visitors, though, as Cardone made one final key save to keep out Anderson Asiedu’s shot from 20 yards to seal the victory.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Mathieu Deplagne, San Antonio FC – Deplagne had a solid game at the back, recording two tackles, four interceptions and eight recoveries before providing the assist on what proved the game-winning goal by Jordan Perruzza.

Scoring Summary
SA – Santiago Patino 1’
SA – Jordan Perruzza (Mathieu Deplagne) 81’
BHM – Neco Brett (Ryan James) 90+4’

Full Box Score