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Matchday Preview: Atlanta United 2 vs. Birmingham Legion FC

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 09/21/21, 9:12AM EDT

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Legion FC heads to Atlanta looking to close gap on Louisville in first place as hosts battle for playoff place


Birmingham Legion FC has won two of three meetings so far this season with Atlanta United 2 as the sides meet for the final time on Wednesday night at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. | Photo courtesy Birmingham Legion FC

KENNESAW, Ga. – Atlanta United 2 will play host to Birmingham Legion FC on Wednesday night at Fifth Third Bank Stadium looking to move back into the win column and into the playoff positions in the USL Championship’s Central Division as visiting Legion FC tries to close the gap to first place after back-to-back draws in recent outings. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.

@atlutd2 (7-10-8, 29pts) became the latest side to fall to the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday night as the side fell 2-0 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium while being held to a pair of shots on goal by the Atlantic Division leaders. Results elsewhere in the Central Division kept Atlanta in the middle of the race for the postseason, however, with the side currently two points behind fourth-placed OKC Energy FC with seven games to play in the regular season, meaning a win would move the side into fourth place should it take victory on Wednesday with OKC not in action again until Sunday. That would mean finding a first win this season against Legion FC this year, however, with Birmingham having taken two wins and a draw in their three prior meetings, including a 3-1 victory on August 4 when the teams last met at BBVA Field as two goals in three minutes early in the second half secured victory for the hosts.

Mikey Lopez was one of the goalscorers for @BHMLegion (12-7-5, 41pts) on that occasion and also scored the lone goal for Legion FC in its last outing, a 1-1 draw at home to Energy FC on Saturday night at BBVA Field. Legion FC will be trying to defend its position in second place as it arrives in Atlanta sitting three points ahead of third-placed FC Tulsa with eight games to go in the campaign while also trying to close the gap to first-placed Louisville City FC, which sits six points ahead at the top of the standings after Legion FC’s recent three-game winless streak. Saturday’s game saw a second appearance since injury of midfielder Bruno Lapa for Birmingham, with the 2020 Championship All-League selection having been sidelined since early July. The Brazilian delivered a late victory when the sides first met on May 30 with a stoppage time penalty kick in a 1-0 win and should provide additional creativity for the side down the final stretch of the regular season.

FiveThirtyEight.com Match Predictor: Atlanta United 2 35%, Birmingham Legion FC 39%, Draw 25%

Most Recent Lineups

Atlanta United 2 (4-3-3): Rocco Rios Novo; Bryce Washington, Josh Bauer, Bradley Kamdem Fewo, Mikey Ambrose; Ajani Fortune, Abdoulaye Diop, Robbie Mertz; Macky Diop, Darwin Matheus, Erik Lopez

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

Discipline

Atlanta United 2 – None

Birmingham Legion FC – None

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