KENNESAW, Ga. – Neco Brett notched two goals and one assist as Birmingham Legion FC pulled away in the final 15 minutes for a 4-0 victory against Atlanta United 2 on Wednesday night at Fifth Third Bank Stadium to end a three-game winless streak and solidify its place in the top two of the USL Championship’s Central Division standings.

Aiming to close the gap to Louisville City FC at the top of the Central, Birmingham had a big chance to take the lead in just the third minute as Brett beat Atlanta’s high defensive line and broke in down the right before centering for JJ Williams, who skied his finish from 12 yards out. Brett then found the net four minutes later after the visitors turned over possession, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Legion FC took the lead in the 16th minute, however, as after play was shifted infield from the right flank by Prosper Kasim to Thomas Vancaeyezeele in a central position, the French Guiana international teed up a shot from 25 yards that clipped a defender and found its way into the back of the net.

The visitors carried their lead to halftime before early in the second half Atlanta tried to hit back as Darwin Matheus fired a low shot from 25 yards that was turned wide of the right post by Legion FC goalkeeper Trevor Spangenberg. Atlanta went close again just past the hour-mark as Robbie Mertz curled a shot wide of the right post, while in the 68th minute Birmingham’s Eli Crognale forced a good low save by Alec Kann for the hosts as he shot to the near post from the right side of the penalty area after a through-ball by Jonathan Dean.

A minute later Kann came up big once again as he denied Brett from point-blank range after the Jamaican forward had beautifully controlled a header back into the penalty area after a corner kick had been half-cleared to set up a shot. Kann won another duel between the two in the 77th minute as Brett got in behind the back line but was unable to beat the goalkeeper with his finish as Kann narrowed the shooting angles perfectly coming off his line.

Atlanta quickly shifted to the other end of the field where Erik Lopez had a close-range chance denied by Spangenberg before his defense cleared, but as the game quickly went end-to-end again Eli Crognale played Brett in for a one-on-one breakaway starting 40 yards from goal that the Jamaican lifted over Kann as he reached the top of the penalty area.

Legion FC wrapped the game up with eight minutes to go as Brett played Kasim into the right channel with a chance to run at his defender, and the Ghanaian cut back inside onto his left foot to deliver a fine finish into the top-left corner of the net to add to his earlier assist. Then in second-half stoppage time Brett added a fourth for the visitors as he seized on a loose touch in the defensive third by Atlanta and chipped Kann from 20 yards to cap a standout night.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Neco Brett, Birmingham Legion FC – Brett was active throughout the night and finished the game with two goals and one assist while notching seven shots, four key passes and completing 16 of 20 passes overall

Scoring Summary
BHM – Thomas Vancaeyezeele (Prosper Kasim) 16’
BHM – Neco Brett (Eli Crognale) 78’
BHM – Prosper Kasim (Neco Brett) 82’
BHM – Neco Brett 90+3’

Full Box Score