So…the big question: where has this team been all year? This was, by a very wide margin, the best game the Legion has played in 2026 and probably since 2024 at least. Well, the obvious answer is this:
The Legion’s secret weapon has returned from its long sabbatical. Jay Heaps of course touched it on his entry onto the field. This author was, not coincidentally, reading a book entitled Anvil Dark (and if you know what that is you are equally as much a multi-disciplinary nerd as I am).
The anvil was even wearing the same color as the guys on the field. Which of course is not just simple gray, it’s metallic gray, or even gunmetal gray. I mean, we’re talking battleship here. For all this, the anvil gets an honorary Man of the Match award. And Noigel can stay home.
On to the guys who actually played in the game:
GK: JASSEM KOLEILAT– B+
Since Tulsa managed just one shot on target all night, Jassem had no saves in the game. He was left hanging on Logan Dorsey’s header and can hardly be faulted for having his clean sheet ruined. He did make 2 punched clearances though. Passing accuracy wasn’t all that great at just 72.2% on 18 attempts.
LB: DAWSON MCCARTNEY – A
Dawson played 68 minutes wearing the armband and was generally pretty effective. Defensively he recorded 1 tackle, 2 clearances and 1 interception. He also won all 3 of his duels. Overall passing was poor, going 26 for 39, but both his crosses found targets and both were considered chance creations.
CB: KADEEM COLE – B+
Kadeem was again pulled into a centerback position for lack of other options and was surprisingly unchallenged. He made 1 tackle and 2 clearances and won 2 of 4 duels. That’s it. In passing he was in Chris Richards territory, going 49 for 50.
CB: BRYCE WASHINGTON – A
Bryce took the obligatory knock but was able to go the full 90, and really stepped up. A hefty 6 clearances and 1 block. He had just 1 duel, which he lost. In attack he had a shot blocked himself, and also created a scoring chance. Passing was up there, 90% on 30 tries.
RB: NICO BROWN – B-
It was Nico who let Logan Dorsey go for the Tulsa goal, putting a black mark on an otherwise solid performance. 2 tackles, 2 clearances and 1 block, combined with 7 of 11 duels won. He a shot blocked and sent in 2 crosses, 1 of which was successful. 28 of 34 passes connected, relatively low for this game.
LDM: SAMUEL SHASHOUA – A+
Sam got a Team of the Week selection for his efforts. He played the attacking half of the pivot, as would be expected. Accordingly, just 1 block. However, he won 9 of 15 duels. Another Richardsesque passing display: 94.7% on a whopping 94 passing attempts. 1 shot on target, another blocked, 6 total crosses, of which 3 found a man. All in, a massive 10 chances created.
RDM: SETH ANTWI – A
Seth managed to create 2 scoring chances from the defensive pivot role. Unusually, he was called on to make just 2 tackles, and won 4 of 8 duels. More sky-high passing: 96.7% good on 67 passes, and a perfect 100% on 22 in the attacking half.
LAM: GEVORK DIARBIAN – A
A winger doesn’t often manage to make no crosses, especially in a game where they were a key part of the strategy. Somehow Gevork managed that feat, preferring to force the ball into the box. By doing so he generated 3 shots, all on target, and a chance creation in his 76 minutes. To those he added 1 tackle, 2 blocks and 1 interception and won 4 of 5 duels. He delivered just 24 passes, missing on only 2.
CAM: PETER-LEE VASSELL – A+
2 goals are enough to earn the Man of the Match honors, but Peter-Lee added 4 more shots off target and another 5 blocked. 11 shots total. We’re not done: 4 crosses, 1 successful, and 3 chance creations. Still not done: 5 blocked shots, 1 interception, 3 of 4 duels won. With all that his 83.7% accuracy on 43 passes is almost a let-down.
RAM: SEBASTIAN TREGARTHEN – A
Seba got the assist on Peter-Lee’s first goal, although it was really a solo effort. He took 4 shots himself, 1 on target, 2 off and 1 blocked. 3 unsuccessful crosses but a huge 4 chances created. He also made a clearance and a block. He was in a ridiculous 18 duels, winning 10. Passing was oddly poor, going 31 for 39.
FWD: RONALDO DAMUS – B+
Ronaldo played 76 minutes and still can’t buy a goal. He’s gone 11 games without scoring now. Of his 4 shots, 1 was on target, 1 was off (from a very difficult position) and 2 were blocked. He did create a scoring chance, though, and was, for once, not called offside. At this point he is more or less a hold-up forward.
SUB: SEBASTIAN SAUCEDO – X
In for Dawson, Bofo was the assist on Peter-Lee’s second goal and very nearly scored himself at the death. Overall, 1 shot on target and 2 off. 19 passes for a 78.9% accuracy rate.
SUB: SERGE NGOMA – A
Replacing Gevork, Serge added some speed and width on the right. He ended up with the assist on Romario’s late goal and was perfect on 8 passes.
SUB: ROMARIO WILLIAMS – A
Romario was last man in, subbing for Ronaldo. He was also the emergency centerback, a position he played way, way back. He made the most of his only shot in the game, sealing the win. He was given a yellow card for a slight nudge that resulted in an Oscar-worthy dive; we won’t ding him for it.
HC: JAY HEAPS – A+
Jay also got a yellow card, of course. No matter, he got this game absolutely right. Working with limited lineup choices, the game plan was on the money. And if Tulsa keeper Dane Jacomen hadn’t stood on his head (about the dumbest phrase ever, imho) with 6 saves, the result would have been a total massacre.
