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Preseason Roundup – Legion falls at home to Atlanta United

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 02/02/25, 8:26AM EST

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Jansen Wilson finds net for LouCity, Juan David Torres for Battery in defeats against MLS opposition


Photo courtesy Birmingham Legion FC

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A first-half goals by Cayman Togashi paved the way for Atlanta United FC to take a 2-0 victory against Birmingham Legion FC in a preseason exhibition at Protective Stadium on Saturday evening, but Legion saw positives from its opening game ahead of the 2025 USL Championship season as four newcomers featured in the starting lineup in a competitive contest.

“I saw a lot of positives and a lot of good energy,” Legion FC Head Coach Tom Soehn said afterwards. “You always learn from the group and it highlighted some areas that we’re still looking to improve upon.”

Togashi opened the scoring in the 25th minute as he flicked home a header into the right corner off a free kick by Ronaldo Hernandez from outside the left side of the penalty area. A late attack resulted in an own goal by Legion with 10 minutes to go to wrap up the scoring.

The second half, however, also produced opportunities for Legion to hit back against its MLS opponent. Rotating in a new lineup to begin the second half, Birmingham created a couple of early chances and a near equalizer from forward Lucca Dourado in what was his first professional experience. Receiving a pass to trigger a counterattack, the former Central Florida star took the ball down the left side before cutting into the penalty area. His right-footed shot beat an outstretched arm from Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan, but rolled wide of the left post.

“I felt butterflies for the first 10 minutes or so,” Dourado said of his first match in Birmingham. “I haven’t had a feeling like that since my first college game which was four years ago, so it was good to have that again of like ‘you made it.’ So now with that out of the way, it’s all about just keep going and keep improving and find ways to help the team win.”

For the match, Legion FC finished with six total shots and a pair on target, while Atlanta countered with seven of its 10 shots on frame.

“You’re disappointed because you lost the game and wanted to give the crowd something to cheer about,” said Legion midfielder Enzo Martinez. “The atmosphere was great, the level of the game was high quality, but most important was the things we saw as a team and getting to play 45 minutes against an opponent with so many guys in the lineup that are new, that’s a big thing. So, it was a lot of positives and things we know we can work on and that’s all you can ask.”

“We’re world ahead in where we are compared to so many teams I’ve had in the past,” added Soehn. “That allows us to jump into the next phase and build the attack out. It provided some good starting points that allows us to move ahead faster than we have in some areas before.”

AUSTIN FC 3, LOUISVILLE CITY FC 1: Jansen Wilson scored a second-half strike for Louisville City FC, but the side was unable to capitalize on its other opportunities as goals by Brendan Hines-Ike and Dani Pereira led Austin FC to victory at Q2 Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

“It was a good exercise for the group,” said LouCity Head Coach Danny Cruz. “We needed to finish our chances after we created a lot of them in the first half. I’m obviously frustrated by the result, but ultimately it’s about continuing to build toward opening day.”

Austin took the lead in the 15th minute when Hines-Ike scored off a corner kick from the left and then doubled their lead five minutes before halftime on an own goal caused by Austin forward Diego Rubio.

Wilson hit back for Louisville just past the hour-mark with a strike from long range as he continued to build his reps in the forward line.

“It was a great goal,” said Cruz. “It came from pressing high up the field – good ball forward, good turn and a great finish from about 24 yards out.”

Austin wrapped up the scoring with four minutes to go, however, as Pereira put home the rebound after Osman Bukari had hit the right post with an initial effort.

D.C. UNITED 2, CHARLESTON BATTERY 1: Juan David Torres scored a second-half goal as the Charleston Battery fell narrowly to D.C. United in their second preseason outing in West Palm Beach, Fla.

United took the lead in the seventh minute when João Peglow found space in the penalty area for a sharp finish. The MLS side doubled the lead 14 minutes later as Peglow added an assist with a low pass to Gabi Pirani, who shot into the bottom-left corner from just outside the penalty area.

Torres hit back for the Battery six minutes into the second half as he curled a free kick from outside the right edge of the penalty area into the top-left corner of the net.

EL PASO LOCOMOTIVE FC 4, BARCA RESIDENCY ACADEMY 0: Gabi Torres, Alvaro Quezada and Amando Moreno each found the net as El Paso Locomotive opened its preseason with victory at the Westside Soccer Complex.

An offseason arrival, Torres opened the scoring for the Locos in the first half then provided the assist on the side’s second – put home by a trialist – before the halftime break.

El Paso then notched another pair of goals after the break as Quezada headed home a cross by Ricky Ruiz before Moreno capitalized on a defensive mistake to wrap up the scoring.

“I’m really excited for this year, and I'm really bought into Coach Wilmer and the coaching staff's program,” said Torres after the game. “It's still preseason so we're not too concerned on the results or the performance. Instead, we're working on getting our fitness back and building chemistry with the guys, so today was a really positive day for that. Today was a good game, we earned our right to have a day off tomorrow to rest and next week, we go again.”

SAN ANTONIO FC 2, UNIVERSITY OF INCARNATE WORD 0: Luke Haakenson and Jake LaCava scored in either half as San Antonio built on its draw against Houston Dynamo FC in its preseason opener with victory against UIW at Toyota Stadium.

Haakenson opened the scoring early on as he capitalized on a rebound opportunity from close range. LaCava added a second after the break as he tucked home an opportunity created by Juan Osorio.

FC TULSA 3, OKLAHOMA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY 0: Recent arrival Taylor Calheira opened his preseason account for FC Tulsa while fellow offseason signings Kalil ElMedkhar and Lamar Batista also found the net as FC Tulsa opened its preseason slate with victory against OWU at the Titan Sports and Performance Center.

Calheira opened the scoring for the hosts from the penalty spot before ElMedkhar doubled Tulsa’s lead with a finish from the right side of the penalty area before the halftime break. Batista then wrapped up the scoring in the second half with a headed finish off a corner kick.

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