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Gameday Report: Brett Strikes Twice as Legion FC Downs Tulsa

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 06/06/21, 10:35PM EDT

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Jamaican forward moves to five goals this season in 2-1 victory at BBVA Field

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Neco Brett scored both goals as Birmingham Legion FC continued its recent run of success after holding off FC Tulsa for a 2-1 victory at BBVA Field on Sunday night.

Looking for a third consecutive victory, Birmingham had an early look at goal as a couple of favorable deflections allowed  Bruno Lapa to fire on target from 25 yards to force a save by Tulsa goalkeeper Sean Lewis. The game then settled as both teams looked to work quickly upfield when they had the chance, and Tulsa’s Eric Bird had his side’s first chance in the 21st minute on a similar effort to Lapa’s that was comfortably held by Legion FC goalkeeper Matt VanOekel.

As the first half progressed, though, the hosts began to find more success in the attacking third. Just before the half-hour mark a low cross by Ryan James from the left found Brett for a shot that was parried by Lewis. The defense half-cleared to Lapa, who sent in another shot that Lewis couldn’t control, but Brett mishit his chance on the rebound to end the opportunity.

Brett made no mistake on the half-hour mark, however, as a misplayed ball by Tulsa’s Leo Folla allowed JJ Williams to gain possession on the left side 35 yards from goal. Williams pushed toward the top-left corner of the penalty area and delivered a deft pass across goal with the outside of his right foot that found Brett in the right side of the box, and the Jamaican fired a low shot that took a deflection off a covering defender to find the near post and give Legion FC the lead.

Tulsa almost responded three minutes later as Bird sprang Jerome Kiesewetter on a counterattack, but Birmingham defender Alex Crognale timed his covering challenge just outside the penalty area perfectly to deny the former U.S. Men’s National Team forward a chance to shoot. The visitors threatened again three minutes before the break as Dario Suarez cleverly created space for a low shot to the left corner inside the top of the penalty area, but VanOekel was equal to the task with a fine save.

The visitors carried their momentum into the second half as Kiesewetter ran onto a pass into the right side of the penalty area from Bradley Bourgeois in the 51st minute and fired a low shot to the near post that VanOekel turned wide. Kembo Kibato then went close four minutes later as his shot from the top-right edge of the penalty area took a deflection off Legion FC’s Anderson Asiedu and went narrowly wide of the right post.

The game entered a delay for lightning in the 58th minute, and after a three-and-a-half hour pause the sides returned, and Tulsa quickly picked back up its pursuit of an equalizer. Rodrigo Da Costa put an effort on target that was saved by VanOekel with 25 minutes to go, and then had another shot blocked behind for a corner kick soon after. Legion FC remained dangerous on the counterattack, however, and with 15 minutes to go Brett notched his second of the game as Junior Flemmings picked up possession in midfield and played his Jamaican compatriot into the penalty area, where Brett flicked a finish home into the right side of the net.

Tulsa pulled a goal back with seven minutes to go, however, as the visitors pulled off a sharp move on the right flank that released Marlon into space for a cross close to the penalty spot where Suarez was on hand to head into the right corner of the net. Suarez went close again three minutes later after Tulsa was awarded a free kick left of center about 25 yards from goal, but his curling effort to the top-left corner was kept out by a diving save by VanOekel.

Birmingham’s goalkeeper was tested again soon after as Suarez again fired on goal, darting a shot from the left side of the penalty area toward the right corner that VanOekel turned wide for a corner. Legion FC then had a chance to add an insurance goal in stoppage time as Williams fired a low shot from 25 yards that Lewis could only parry. The rebound came to Flemmings, but his shot was deflected wide of the right post, but it proved academic as the hosts saw out the final moments to move top of the Central Division.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Neco Brett, Birmingham Legion FC – Brett scored both goals for the hosts, had four shots overall, and went 5 of 5 in duels while completing 19 of 26 passes in the win.

Scoring Summary
BHM – Neco Brett (JJ Williams) 30’
BHM – Neco Brett (Junior Flemmings) 75’
TUL – Dario Suarez (Marlon) 83’

Full Box Score

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