BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Birmingham Legion FC will play host to Sporting Kansas City II on Sunday evening at BBVA Field looking to solidify its place at the top of the USL Championship’s Central Division in its penultimate game of the regular season against an SKC II side that returns to action looking to close its campaign on a positive note. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET.

@BHMLegion (17-7-6, 57pts) saw its five-game winning streak come to an end in its most recent outing after a 0-0 draw last Sunday evening against OKC Energy FC at Taft Stadium, but the result moved the side a further point ahead of second-placed Louisville City FC to make the margin between the teams two points with two games remaining. Legion FC will be keeping an eye on LouCity’s game against third-placed Memphis 901 FC on Saturday afternoon, as if Louisville fails to take victory, Birmingham would clinch the Central Division title with a victory against Sporting on home turf. The hosts have been led this season by forward Neco Brett, who has notched 17 goals this season to sit tied for fourth in the league, and the Jamaican has now recorded 26 regular season goals for the side. He has received support this season from JJ Williams and Junior Flemmings, who have each recorded five goals apiece, while Williams, Jonathan Dean and Mikey Lopez have each recorded four assists in a well-balanced side, but Lopez will be unavailable for Sunday’s contest as he serves a one-game suspension for caution accumulation.

@SportingKCII (4-18-8, 20pts) enters its penultimate game of the season looking to find a win after its claimed victory on the field in its last outing on October 13 against Atlanta United 2 but fielded an ineligible player to suffer a 3-0 forfeit of the contest. SKC II has only won twice on the road this season, with the most recent a 1-0 victory against Atlanta United 2 that saw Enoch Mushagalusa score the only goal of the game, but the Congolese winger has been one of the brightest players for the side this season with eight goals on the campaign overall. Sporting will be without Jake Davis for Sunday’s game as he serves a suspension for caution accumulation, with Davis having recorded a team-high six assists this season. SKC II has won only once in five prior meetings with Birmingham, and has lost all three meetings between the clubs so far this season.  

FiveThirtyEight.com Match Predictor: Birmingham Legion FC 61%, Sporting Kansas City II 16%, Draw 23%

Most Recent Lineups

Birmingham Legion FC (4-2-3-1): Matt VanOekel; Jonathan Dean, Alex Crognale, Phanuel Kavita, Mikey Lopez; Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Anderson Asiedu; Prosper Kasim, Bruno Lapa, Ryan James; Junior Flemmings

Sporting Kansas City II (4-3-3): John Pulskamp; Kayden Pierre, Graham Smith, Daniel Barbir, Isaiah LeFlore; Mataeo Bunbury, Petar Cuic, Ozzie Cisneros; Jake Davis, Enoch Mushagalusa, Grayson Barber

Discipline

Birmingham Legion FC – Suspended: Mikey Lopez

Sporting Kansas City II – Suspended: Jake Davis