BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Anderson Asiedu scored the winner in stoppage-time as Birmingham Legion FC took its first win of the regular season with a 2-1 victory against Hartford Athletic at Protective Stadium after the sides had exchanged goals in the opening half.

Making his USL Championship debut after seeing his first action for Legion FC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Thursday, former United States international Juan Agudelo almost made an immediate impact in the 10th minute with a powerful header that clipped the outside of the left post and went behind. Asiedu also hit the woodwork three minutes later with an audacious chip from 30 yards that beat the goalkeeper but hit the crossbar and rebounded to safety.

The hosts took the lead eight minutes before halftime as Mikey Lopez was brought down in the penalty area by Hartford’s Ashkanov Apollon, allowing Agudelo to step up to the spot and shoot low to the right corner for his first goal in Birmingham’s colors. The lead proved short-lived, though, as Apollon made amends for his foul with a crisply struck volley off a cross by Andre Lewis as he arrived late in the left side of the penalty area to pull Hartford level in the 43rd minute.

The Athletic had a chance to take the lead in the 64th minute when Danny Barrera received a pass from Modou Jadama in the center of the penalty area but shot just wide of the bottom-left corner. Legion FC’s Marlon Santos then had a golden chance to put the hosts ahead with seven minutes to go as he sent his finish wide from eight yards after a fine low cross from the right by Jonny Dean found the Brazilian at the back post, but in the third minute of stoppage time Asiedu stole in at the back post on a corner kick from the left by Enzo Martinez to head home and give Legion FC its first three points of the season.

USLChampionship.com Player of the Match

Anderson Asiedu, Birmingham Legion FC – Asiedu scored the dramatic winner for the hosts having previously hit the crossbar while recording five shots, three chances created and completing 46 of 51 passes overall.

Scoring Summary
BHM – Juan Agudelo (Penalty Kick) 37’
HFD – Ashkanov Apollon (Andre Lewis) 43’
BHM – Anderson Asieudu (Enzo Martinez) 90+3’

Full Box Score