skip navigation

Matchday Preview: Birmingham Legion FC vs. OKC Energy FC

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 09/17/21, 9:17AM EDT

Share

Legion FC looks to make it three wins from three against Central Division foe as OKC visits BBVA Field


Birmingham Legion FC has taken victory in both prior meetings with OKC Energy FC this season as the teams meet on Saturday night at BBVA Field. | Photo courtesy Birmingham Legion FC

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Birmingham Legion FC plays host to OKC Energy FC on Saturday night at BBVA Field looking to maintain its upper hand on its new Central Division opponent while also looking to return to the win column itself as Energy FC arrives hoping to hold onto fourth place in the division standings. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.

@BHMLegion (12-7-4, 40pts) played to a 1-1 draw last Saturday night on the road against FC Tulsa to remain in second place in the Central Division as JJ Williams scored with 12 minutes to go to earn the visitors a point at ONEOK Field. Legion FC is winless overall in its last two outings but remains only four points behind Louisville City FC with nine games to go in the regular season and in with a chance to take first place at the end of the campaign. To accomplish that, Legion FC will be looking for a repeat of its two victories against Energy FC in the first two meetings all-time between the clubs, with goals by Neco Brett and Williams having earned a 2-1 win the last time the sides met on May 26. Brett is part of a five-way tie for third in the Championship with 12 goals this season to lead the side, while Jonathan Dean has notched four assists as well.

@EnergyFC (7-8-9, 30pts) remains in fourth place ahead of this weekend’s action after a 1-1 draw against Louisville City FC kept it a point ahead of Atlanta United 2 and Indy Eleven but is also without a win in its last two games as it seeks a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. The side took a first-half lead against LouCity as Zach Ellis-Hayden scored his first goal for the club, but the hosts were unable to hold on for victory to keep the race for the playoffs a tight one. OKC has been led this season by Villyan Bijev, who scored from the penalty spot in the last meeting between the sides for one of his 10 goals this season to go with four assists. OKC has struggled at times for goals this campaign, however, with 25 goals in 24 games to sit with the sixth-fewest tallies overall in the Championship, and Bijev having played a decisive role in 56 percent of those goals.

FiveThirtyEight.com Match Predictor: Birmingham Legion FC 52%, OKC Energy FC 22%, Draw 27%

Most Recent Lineups

Birmingham Legion FC (4-3-3): Trevor Spangenberg; Jonathan Dean, Ben Ofeimu, Phanuel Kavita, Ryan James; Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Mike Lopez, Anderson Asiedu; Prosper Kasim, Neco Brett, Junior Flemmings

OKC Energy FC (3-4-3): CJ Cochran; Mitchell Osmond, Conor Donovan, Lamar Batista; Zach Hayden-Ellis, Hiroki Kurimoto, Charlie Ward, Tucker Stephenson; Aidan Daniels, Jaime Chavez, Villyan Bijev

Discipline

Birmingham Legion FC – None

OKC Energy FC – None

Follow the USL Championship

Most Recent News

Most Read News

Latest Videos