WEEKEND RESULTS
Through Sun Sept 22
Matheus saves Legion's bacon in his first game
Birmingham Legion
Sometimes a team has your number. And then there are teams that just get under your skin. Miami FC is objectively a bad team this year. But for every game where they get blown out, they play two or three where they'll lose a close game. For the second time this season, Birmingham beats Miami 1-0. Legion controlled the game in almost every category, and the score could have just as easily been 3-0. They were aggressive in attack, and hit the posts with some rockets. But the score was 0-0 headed into extra time. Newcomer Darwin Matheus was subbed into the game at 62’, and took a little bit of time to get going. He was most effective driving the wing and crossing into the box. So, in the third minute of stoppage time, Matheus looked like he was lining up a cross, but fired a bender at the goal instead. The keeper was caught leaning to prepare for the cross, and couldn't get to the shot. So, the new kid comes in with late heroics and secures three crucial points. He was mobbed after the game (as he should have been).
Huntsville City FC
Huntsville domintaed Cincinnati 2 in almost every statistical category, except the most important one: they lost 0-2. Cincy was content to let Huntsville dominate posession, and then counterattack. If they're looking for something to build on, the game was close, with division-leading Cincinnati ahead just 1-0 until scoring the second in the 89th minute. Huntsville will not make the playoffs, but they're definitely improving.
FC Birmingham
FCB hosted the division leader, Dalton United. The Fall season has quickly shown that Dalton combines a potent offense with a stingy defense. This game held true to form, and FCB lost 1-3. Not the result they wanted, but also some positive takeaways.
FCB2
In the first game of a home double-header with the first team, FCB2 hosted Limeno II. Both teams were coming off of losses in week one. FCB2 was able to take the three points with a 2-0 win.
The Adjacency
Fountain City is having a tough time in the Premier division of UPSL. They have won just one game and lost three in the Fall season. Saturday's game against Potros FC featured two mid-table teams looking for some separation. Fountain City loses 0-4, and they find themselves searching for answers.
Elsewhere in Columbus, FC Columbus Elite is starting off the Fall season on fire. They put an absolute whipping on Columbus Knight Eagles, winning 7-0. That makes 13 goals scored by Elite in the first two games of Fall, good for first place in the division. Knight Eagles will need to regroup.