KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Birmingham Legion FC booked its spot in the 2021 USL Championship Playoffs on Friday night as a first-half goal by Alex Crognale proved enough to take a 1-0 victory against Sporting Kansas City II at Children’s Mercy Park despite a spirited second half response from the hosts.

The hosts had a pair of early chances as first Enoch Mushagalusa curled a shot just over the top-right corner of the net from the top-left edge of the penalty area before Jake Davis’ long-range shot was comfortably saved by Legion FC goalkeeper Matt VanOekel. The visitors took the lead in the 10th minute, though, as Bruno Lapa’s corner kick from the left found Alex Crognale at the top of the six-yard area for a powerful downward header that found the net.

Legion FC leading scorer Neco Brett almost added a second in the 17th minute as the visitors were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal to the right of center. The Jamaican curled a shot toward the top-left corner but rang the crossbar as the ball caromed behind for a goal kick. The hosts also had a pair of half-chances approaching the halftime break, including a free kick from the left by Jake Davis that caromed off an unsighted Kaveh Rad at the top of the six-yard area after coming through a crowd at the near post but went wide of the left post.

Sporting also hit the woodwork early in the second half when Mushagalusa was set up for a shot in the right side of the penalty area by Davis and rang the top-right edge of the post with a powerful strike, but clear chances proved difficult for either side as the half progressed. The action picked up following Legion FC’s first good chance after the break in the 64th minute as a low cross by Ryan James from the left found Lapa for a first-time shot that was parried by SKC II goalkeeper Brooks Thompson. A minute later the hosts had a chance of their own as Mataeo Bunbury shuffled centrally past a pair of defenders at the top of the penalty area and fired a shot to the left corner that was saved.

Bunbury – the 16-year-old brother of former U.S. international Teal Bunbury – threatened again with 21 minutes to go as he fired a shot from 25 yards to the right corner that forced a diving save from VanOekel, and then set up a good chance as he cut centrally from the left before finding Ozzie Cisneros for a curling shot that curled just wide of the right post with VanOekel frozen.

Birmingham almost iced the game with four minutes remaining as Haiti international Zach Herivaux cut inside for a shot that took a big deflection but was still brilliantly denied by Thompson as he palmed the ball wide of his right post. The chance proved academic, though, as the visitors held off SKC II’s late attempts to level to come away with the win and a place in November’s postseason.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Matt VanOekel, Birmingham Legion FC - VanOekel recorded a four-save shutout to preserve the early lead for the visitors in a solid road performance for his seventh clean sheet of the season overall.

Scoring Summary
BHM – Alex Crognale (Bruno Lapa) 10’

Full Box Score