TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Birmingham Legion FC advanced to the Round of 32 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the first time in club history on Wednesday night as goalkeeper Trevor Spangenberg came up with a key save in a penalty shootout against Chattanooga FC at the University of Alabama Soccer Stadium after the teams had played to a 1-1 draw after extra time.

Legion FC claimed victory as it remained ahead during the shootout against its lower-division foes, with Tyler Pasher, Gabriel Alves, Jake Rufe, and Enzo Martinez each finding the net in the opening five rounds. While Juan Agudelo’s effort was saved for the hosts in the second round, Chattanooga’s Richard Dixon followed with a shot off the crossbar to keep the game even, and after Martinez scored the open the fifth round, Spangenberg denied CFC’s Leonel Alvarenga with a diving save to send Birmingham through.

“You never know how penalty shootouts can go,” said Spangenberg. “You can think you're good at penalties, but then they can come up and bury five on you. So, I just kind of stick to what I know and look at the things that I think are going to help me get a good read. And they still hit some good penalties, but thankfully we did too tonight. And I was just happy to get two. I count it as two. Misses count as a save in the goalkeeper union book. It was good to at least get two and move on to the next round.

“I just kind of space out in the moment and I'm just worried about each guy. I think as soon as I did save it, I was aware we had won. I don't think even half the team was aware we had won, but it's just one of those you're just totally in the moment. You're not really thinking next save, wins it, anything like that. It's just yeah, zeroed in on one guy and one guy alone. I like it.”

Birmingham had taken the lead in the 31st minute when Prosper Kasim fired home a wonder goal from distance. After Legion FC made its way into the box and CFC attempted to clear, the ball fell to the Ghanaian just outside the area on the right. From there he cut in onto his favored side and left the goalkeeper rooted with a pinpoint, curling effort into the top left corner.

“You just saw he's aware of those scenarios and when he looked up, you could tell he was going to take it and he hit it perfectly,” said Legion FC Head Coach Tommy Soehn about Kasim’s goal. “He sent the ‘keeper and the ‘keeper had no chance on that. So just good vision and good execution.”

The visitors evened things up from the penalty spot in the 68th minute after Chattanooga was awarded a penalty kick. Forward Taylor Gray took some slight contact and forward Markus Naglestad scored from 12 yards, sending the game to extra time. While Birmingham had the better of the chances in the extra session, outshooting the visitors 23-10 over 120 minutes, neither side was able to find a winner in extra time, but Spangenberg’s key save delivered the result Legion FC needed and a place in the next round.

LOUDOUN UNITED FC 5, FLOWER CITY UNION 0: Tommy Williamson bagged a pair of first-half goals as Loudoun United FC romped past Flower City Union at Segra Field to advance and continue the club’s positive recent run of form.

Williamson gave United the early lead in the sixth minute as he tapped home from close range off a pass from Panos Armenakas and then scored a second goal 10 minutes before halftime. That finish appeared to open up the visitors as Zach Ryan scored six minutes before the break and Abdoul Zanne four minutes into the second half to extend Loudoun’s lead. Kalil ElMedkhar rounded out the scoring just past the hour-mark as the hosts put 11 shots on target overall in a one-sided victory.

INTER MIAMI CF 2 (5), MIAMI FC 2 (3): Miami FC twice took the lead – once in regulation and once in extra time - but was unable to hold on before falling 5-3 in a penalty shootout to Inter Miami CF at Riccardo Silva Stadium.

Miami FC got out to an ideal start when Christian Sorto opened the scoring in just the second minute for his second goal in as many games. Inter carried more of the play over the 90 minutes, however, and when it appeared the visitors might hold on in regulation, Shanyder Borgelin scored in the 89th minute to send the game to extra time.

The visitors continued to press, but with four minutes to go in the second period of extra time Miami FC regained the lead as a miscommunication between Inter goalkeeper Drake Callender and defender DeAndre Yedlin resulted in an own goal to put the hosts back on top. Inter found another response, however, as Ryan Sailor headed home into the bottom-right corner two minutes later.

Miami put itself in with a chance to advance in the ensuing shootout, but after both teams scored their first three shots, Inter went on top in the fourth round as Jean Mota’s effort couldn’t quite be kept out by Miami FC goalkeeper Adrian Zendejas. Ryan Telfer then missed the target with his shot to give Inter the edge, one that was driven home by Kamal Miller in the fifth round to close out the result.

FC CINCINNATI 1, LOUISVILLE CITY FC 0: Louisville City FC was unable to capitalize on its first-half chances as a late goal by Guatemala international Arquimides Ordonez sent FC Cincinnati to victory at TQL Stadium.

Ordonez almost put FCC ahead early as he broke in behind the back line and rounded LouCity goalkeeper Kyle Morton, only for LouCity’s Sean Totsch to make a crucial intervention. From there, though, the visitors had the better of the chances with Cameron Lancaster leading the way. The English forward was unable to capitalize on his chances, however, and neither did his teammates and that came back to haunt LouCity with five minutes to go when Ordonez scored the only goal to send FCC through.

COLUMBUS CREW SC 1, INDY ELEVEN 0: Mohammed Farsi scored a late winner as Columbus Crew SC’s persistence paid off against an obstinate Indy Eleven lineup at Lower.com Field.

The Crew pushed consistently into attack throughout the game while outshooting Indy 21-7 but were held at bay by a stellar display by Indy goalkeeper Yannik Oettl, who recorded seven saves including five inside the penalty area. With seven minutes to go, however, Farsi found a way through to earn the Crew a second win all-time against Indy in the Open Cup.

HOUSTON DYNAMO FC 1, TAMPA BAY ROWDIES 0: Brooklyn Raines scored the only goal a minute before halftime as Houston Dynamo FC were able to defeat the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Al Lang Stadium.

The Rowdies went close to taking the lead in the 15th minute when Jordan Doherty fired a low low, left-footed strike from the top of the box clipped the far post to stay out of the net. The visitors struck late in the half, however, as the side was able to find space down the middle of the field for Brooklyn Raines to drive and slip the ball past keeper Connor Sparrow.