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Matchday Report: Legion FC, Energy FC End Deadlocked

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 09/18/21, 9:49PM EDT

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Lopez scores second-half equalizer for hosts in 1-1 draw at BBVA Field

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A second-half equalizer by Mikey Lopez earned Birmingham Legion FC a 1-1 draw with OKC Energy FC on Wednesday night at BBVA Field after an outstanding individual goal by Villyan Bijev had put the visitors ahead late in the first half.

Neither side created many early chances as an early header off target by Energy FC’s Mitchell Osmond off a cross by Charlie Ward proved the only real chance in the opening half-hour. Six minutes before halftime, however, Bijev broke the game open as he received a pass on the left flank by Deklan Wynne and wove through a pair of defenders to get into the penalty area before drifting centrally to shoot home into the bottom-right corner of the net.

Legion FC leveled 10 minutes into the second half, however, as a cross from the right was half-cleared to midfielder Lopez 25 yards from goal. Lopez fired a shot back on target that eluded Energy FC goalkeeper CJ Cochran and slipped into the back of the net. The goal produced a spark for the hosts, who almost went ahead four minutes later as Junior Flemmings received possession centrally and cut onto his right foot for a curling effort from distance that Cochran palmed wide for a corner kick.

Flemmings was denied again with 15 minutes to go as the Jamaican international wove into the right side of the penalty area past a pair of defenders and fired a low shot that Cochan got behind to gather. The hosts continued to press as the game entered its closing stages, and Jonathan Dean had a chance blocked away by Energy FC defender Conor Donovan after a clever pass by Bruno Lapa into the right side of the box set up the right back for a chance to shoot. Both JJ Williams and Flemming then also had chances to find a winner, the former shooting wide of the right post on a turning and the second smothered by Cochran, but Energy FC held on to earn a point toward its bid to reach the postseason on a night when both its closest rivals suffered defeat.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Mikey Lopez, Birmingham Legion FC – Lopez scored the equalizer for the hosts and completed 49 of 57 passes overall while making three interceptions and five recoveries in midfield.

Scoring Summary
OKC
– Villyan Bijev (Deklan Wynne) 39’
BHM – Mikey Lopez 55’

Full Box Score

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