Sporting KC II suffer fourth straight loss in six-goal thriller with Birmingham Legion

Sporting KC II suffered their fourth straight defeat on Wednesday night as they fell 4-2 away to Birmingham Legion FC. It was Birmingham’s second multi-goal win of the season.

SKC II got an early goal from Petar Cuic, but it lasted three minutes. In the second half, SKC II fell behind before a first professional goal from Jamil Roberts equalized. Birmingham later scored the winner in the 81st minute before a fourth in stoppage time.

SKC II remains at the bottom of the Central Division with a 3-11-5 record with 14 points. They remain winless from their last five.

Getting his first start since June was goalkeeper Brooks Thompson with Jake Davis in at right back. Zion Long got his second straight start after signing an Academy contract last week. Thompson was the only first team loan getting the start, with Grayson Barber available off the bench.

An interesting issue was discovered as SKC II appeared to have had too many Academy contracted players on the gameday roster. Allowed a maximum of five, SKC II had six Academy contracted players on the gameday roster.

Coming off their fifth loss of the season, Birmingham allowed former USL Golden Boot winner Junior Flemmings to start from the bench. They still had Central Division’s leading scorer Neco Brett starting as well as former SKC midfielder Mikey Lopez in the starting XI.

SKC II broke through four minutes in with a laser from Petar Cuic, who scored his first of the year. Rojay Smith’s cross from the right was headed straight to Cuic, who took a touch before blasting it past the keeper from just inside the box.

The lead did not last long. Birmingham’s equalizer came in the seventh minute as Neco Brett got his 11th goal of the year. Wide open near the penalty spot, Brett received the ball as his first touch popped the ball in the air before he blasted it above Thompson.

The only other big chance of the first half came Birmingham’s way in the 16th minute. After SKC II lost the ball, the hosts worked the ball to Mikey Lopez on the left side, but his effort from inside the box was sent just over.

SKC II had a chance in the 62nd minute. Jamil Roberts got on the end of a bouncing ball and sent his chipped effort wide. Rojay Smith had a shot shortly after that went high and wide.

Legion FC took the lead 70 minutes in. After a bad clearance from Rojay Smith sent the ball right to Thomas Vancaeyezeele, who put the ball on his right and sent a good ball right to the head of JJ Flemmings, who applied the header to beat Thompson.

Sporting II equalized four minutes later. It came from a terrific deep delivery from Jake Davis as Jamil Roberts rose to smash his header in for his first professional goal, overpowering the keeper's save.

The winner came 81 minutes in when Junior Flemmings had a deflected effort fell just inside the near post. The ball fell to Flemmings after a couple of headers in the box had the SKC II defense in disarray.

Birmingham secured the win in stoppage time with a good run and finish from Anderson Asiedu. The Ghanaian placed his shot perfectly in the corner from outside the box after Flemmings applied heavy pressure to win the ball.

Sporting KC II will look to break their losing streak when they host Atlanta United 2 on Saturday.

Sporting KC II: Brooks Thompson; Coby Jones (Isaiah LeFlore 46’); Aljaz Dzankic (Danny Barbir 60’); Matt Constant; Jake Davis; Petar Cuic; Jahon Rad; Christian Duke (C) (Jayvin Van Deventer 84’); Enoch Mushagalusa; Zion Long (Jamil Roberts 60’); Rojay Smith

Subs Not Used: Remi Prieur; Michael Lenis; Daniel Gutierrez

Birmingham Legion FC: Trevor Spangenberg; Phanuel Kavita (C); Zachary Herivaux; Benjamin Ofeimu (Alex Crognale 83’); Ryan James (Junior Flemmings 59’); Anderson Asiedu; Eli Crognale (Thomas Vancaeyezeele 58’); Jonathan Dean; Mikey Lopez; Neco Brett (Jaden Servania 71’); Prosper Kasim (JJ Williams 58’)

Subs Not Used: Matt Van Oekel; Jacob Rufe

Scoring Summary:

SKC — Petar Cuic 4’

BHM — Neco Brett (Prosper Kasim) 7’

BHM — JJ Williams (Thomas Vancaeyezeele) 70’

SKC — Jamil Roberts (Jake Davis) 74’

BHM — Junior Flemmings 81’

BHM — Anderson Asiedu (Junior Flemmings) 90+1’

Misconduct Summary:

SKC — Christian Duke (yellow card; foul) 68’

SKC — Danny Barbir (yellow card; foul) 90+4’