KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Prosper Kasim scored a brilliant long-range strike that proved the difference as Birmingham Legion FC took a 1-0 win against Sporting Kansas City II on Wednesday night at Children’s Mercy Park that moved the visitors within a point of Louisville City FC for first place in the USL Championship’s Central Division.

The game took time to settle, and it wasn’t until the 19th minute that the first clear chance arrived as JJ Williams nudged away his defender receiving a throw-in on the left and fired a low shot to the near post that was turned wide by John Pulskamp. While the first half saw few shots overall, though, three minutes before the break it received a brilliant strike from the visitors to break the deadlock as after Mikey Lopez won a 50-50 challenge 30 yards from the SKC II goal the ball spun toward Kasim, who lined up a shot from 25 yards that picked out the top-left corner of the net.

The game livened up early in the second half, however, as Sporting almost leveled four minutes in when a cutback cross from the left by Kayden Pierre found Christian Duke for a first-time shot that was parried by Birmingham’s Matt VanOekel. The rebound came to Rojay Smith, whose chance to shoot was denied by a sliding Ryan James, whose challenge sent the ball to Ozzie Cisneros for a shot that was blocked. The ball caromed back to Smith, who fired wide on the turn to end the chance.

Williams then went close again for Birmingham as Kasim played him into the left side of the penalty area for a near-post shot that was well parried away by Pulskamp. Kasim had another go himself in the 64th minute after Jonathan Dean got past his marker on the right and found the Ghanaian for a low shot that found the outside of the side-netting.

Sporting had another chance to level with 14 minutes remaining as off a corner from the right the hosts held play in the penalty area and set up Duke for a shot from the left side of the box that was first blocked by Phanuel Kavita and then cleared by Williams from the top of the six-yard area. Six minutes later, Petar Cuic fired a long-range effort for the hosts that was saved by VanOekel, and then with two minutes remaining SKC went even closer as Ropapa Mensah’s header at the near post off a cross from the right by Enoch Mushagalusa clipped the outside of the upright and went behind for a goal kick. That would be the last chance for the hosts, however, as Legion FC held on to claim another big three points.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Prosper Kasim, Birmingham Legion FC – The Ghanaian produced an outstanding finish to decide the game and was active throughout, finishing the night with four shots and completing 34 of 42 passes while making 12 recoveries.

Scoring Summary
BHM – Prosper Kasim (Mikey Lopez) 42’

Full Box Score