Recap: Sporting Kansas City II suffers tough 4-2 defeat at Birmingham Legion FC

Sporting Kansas City II (3-11-5, 14 points) fell to a tough 4-2 defeat on the road against Birmingham Legion FC (10-5-2, 32 pts.) at BBVA Field in Alabama on Wednesday night. Petar Cuic scored his first goal of the season while Jamil Roberts bagged his first professional goal but it wasn’t enough as SKC II suffered a two-goal defeat.

With just one first team player in the lineup in 18-year-old goalkeeper Brooks Thompson, Sporting II got off to a dream start when Cuic gave the visitors the lead in the fourth minute. Rojay Smith’s cross from the right wing was headed clear but only as far as the Croatian, who took a touch before rifling the ball into the top corner.

Birmingham didn’t waste any time getting back into the game, hitting right back as Neco Brett volleyed home an emphatic finish after being found inside the penalty area by Prosper Kasim in the seventh minute.

The best chance for the remainder of the first half fell to former Sporting KC midfielder Mikey Lopez, but the now Birmingham Legion man could only fire his effort over the bar with only Thompson to beat.

The game sparked into life after both teams made a host of substitutions around the 60-minute mark. First, substitute Jamil Roberts missed a gilt-edged opportunity to put his side in front when he lobbed an effort wide of the target while clean through on goal in the 62nd minute.

Then, the Legion took the lead in the 70th minute as sub J.J. Williams met fellow sub Thomas Vancaeyezeele’s cross and expertly flicked a header into the side netting to make it 2-1 in favor of Birmingham.

Undeterred, SKC II fought their way right back into the game as Roberts atoned for his earlier miss by meeting Jake Davis’ terrific cross from the right wing to thunder a header beyond Trevor Spangenberg and into the back of the net to set up a grandstand finale. The assist was SKC Academy product Davis’ team-leading third of the season.

Just moments after Sporting II’s Smith had fired over after a devastating counter featuring the Jamaican and Enoch Mushagalusa, Birmingham found what would prove to be the game-winner. A cross from the right side of the area was headed away but fell to Junior Flemmings who snuck a deflected shot past Thompson and into the back of the net in the 81st minute.

With Sporting II piling numbers forward late, the Legion made the points safe as Flemmings found Anderson Asiedu who slotted his shot into the corner from 20 yards to make the final score 4-2.

Sporting II returns home this weekend to take on Atlanta United 2 at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday, Aug. 14. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

2021 USL Championship | Match 19
BBVA Field | Birmingham Alabama
Weather: Mostly cloudy and 77 degrees

Sporting Kansas City II: Brooks Thompson; Jake Davis, Matt Constant, Aljaz Dzankic (Danny Barbir 60’), Coby Jones (Isaiah LeFlore 46’); Jahon Rad, Christian Duke (C) (Jayvin Van Deventer 84’), Petar Cuic; Rojay Smith, Zion Long (Jamil Roberts 60’), Enoch Mushagalusa
Subs Not Used: Remi Prieur, Michael Lenis

Birmingham Legion FC: Trevor Spangenberg; Benjamin Ofeimu (Alex Crognale 83’), Zachary Herivaux, Phanuel Kavita; Jonathan Dean, Eli Crognale (Thomas Vancaeyezeele 58’), Anderson Asiedu, Mikey Lopez, Ryan James (Junior Flemmings 59’); Neco Brett (Jaden Servania 71’), Prosper Kasim (J.J. Williams 58’)
Subs Not Used: Matt Van Oekel, Jake Rufe

Scoring Summary:
SKC – Petar Cuic 1 (Unassisted) 4’
BHM – Neco Brett 11 (Prosper Kasim 1) 7’
BHM – J.J. Williams 3 (Thomas Vancaeyezeele 1) 70’
SKC – Jamil Roberts 1 (Jake Davis 3) 74’
BHM – Junior Flemmings 3 (Unassisted) 81’
BHM – Anderson Asiedu (Junior Flemmings 2) 91+

Misconduct Summary:SKC – Christian Duke (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 68’
SKC – Danny Barbir (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 93+

Referee: JC Griggs
Assistant Referee: Jeffrey Skinker
Assistant Referee: Kendall McCardell
Fourth Official: Sarah Gaddes