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Gameday Previews – Sunday, April 9

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 04/08/23, 11:20AM EDT

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Birmingham aims to continue undefeated start as Phoenix looks to build on Open Cup win


Birmingham Legion FC and Juan Agudelo will try to continue their undefeated start to the season when Phoenix Rising FC visits Protective Stadium on Sunday evening. | Photo courtesy Birmingham Legion FC

Week 5 in the USL Championship’s regular season concludes on Sunday evening as Eastern Conference leader Birmingham Legion FC plays host to Phoenix Rising FC aiming to continue its undefeated start to the season.

Here’s a look ahead to the action.

Birmingham Legion FC vs. Phoenix Rising FC

Venue: Protective Stadium
Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: BHM 40%, PHX 35%, Draw 25%

The Lowdown: Birmingham Legion FC will look for its fifth consecutive victory in all competitions when it plays host to Phoenix Rising FC, which will head east in search of its first league win of the season after a midweek Open Cup success. Legion FC (3-0-1, 10pts) took a 2-0 victory on the road against the Tampa Bay Rowdies last Saturday night to move four points clear of its competition in the Eastern Conference as Neco Brett scored both goals at Al Lang Stadium. The side followed that up with a 4-1 victory on the road against USL League One club Chattanooga Red Wolves SC that included a pair of goals for Juan Agudelo as well as finishes by Collin Smith and Diba Nwegbo, giving the side 11 goals in five outings across all competitions this season. Legion FC took a 1-0 win when it visited Phoenix last season, a result Rising FC (0-1-2, 2pts) will be looking to reverse after it put in a solid display on Wednesday night to take a 1-0 victory against USL League One club Greenville Triumph SC at Phoenix Rising Stadium. The visitors looked on the verge of their first win of the league season last Saturday as Manuel Arteaga scored twice to stake the side to a two-goal lead in its home opener, but a pair of late goals by San Diego Loyal SC left Phoenix to settle for a point.  

Spotlight Players
Birmingham Legion FC – Neco Brett:
The Jamaican’s two-goal outing moved him into a tie for fifth place in the USL Championship’s regular season scoring list with 72 goals for his career, and he’ll be aiming to add to that mark after being rested in midweek.

Phoenix Rising FC – Carlos Harvey: The Panamanian international scored the only goal in Phoenix’s victory against Greenville and will need to put in a good midfield display to try and help contain Birmingham’s creative midfield led by Enzo Martinez.

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