The Legion enter this weekend on 3 straight 2-3 losses, the worst stretch of what has been a poor season overall. None of those games should have ended that way. The Three Sparks also gave up leads 4 times in 3 games, and in predictable ways. Wasting points is not something the team can afford to do. They need to get back on track fast; even with a somewhat favorable schedule, every point will be crucial and mistakes must be eliminated.
The most important part
The 2-2 home draw with Indy Eleven back in April seems like an age ago. The return game this weekend (Saturday, 6:00pm, ESPN+) looms large for both teams.
The stakes for the Legion are all too obvious. For the Eleven, they are on 28 points (11 better than the Three Sparks) and are tied with Rhode Island FC. Both are 2 points behind Hartford Athletic, who play at Detroit City this weekend but have one more game under their belts. Moving up the standings is a distinct possibility for both chasing teams, although Rhody also has a tough math this week (see below).
Preventing that from happening is absolutely critical. But is the Legion up to the task?
The Eleven are of course a very mercurial team and are fully committed to a low-possession style. They catch opponents on the counter repeatedly and rely on a stingy defense as well. They have scored just 24 goals, the same as the Legion but have parlayed them into 11 more points. They have allowed 24 goals as well, the second-worst goal difference above the playoff line in the East (Hartford has -1). Overall, they have attempted 250 shots, 3 fewer than the Legion (oddly, their conversion rate is weaker).
This also means that their strength is the Legion’s Achilles heel. Namely, wide play. Both goals against the Legion earlier this year came off crosses. That of course is no surprise. So how to avoid that huge problem?
One way is to do what the team did last week; go up early. Then use Indy’s hands-off approach to beat them. Keep them pinned deep and do not allow the breakaway. Force them to make difficult passes; the Legion remains among the league leaders in passing (2nd currently on 84% accurate); Indy is dead last on just 73%. They can’t score if they can’t connect. And above all, keep them out of Koleilat’s 18-yard box.
If the Three Sparks can earn a win on the road (which they have done just once all season, over Rhode Island), it should go a long way to restoring confidence. and get out of their own heads ahead of the upcoming 2-game home stand at Dunnavant Valley. Speaking of…
Best of the rest
Once again the Legion’s next opponent, the Charleston Battery, is off this weekend, having unhelpfully lost 1-2 to Hartford Athletic on Wednesday. That was, however, in part due to Nathan Messer’s red card. Messer is the regular starting left back and thus will not be available next week. So, no scouting opportunity this weekend, but there are several key games you need to keep an eye tonight and tomorrow.
Loudoun United v. Colorado Springs Switchbacks (Friday, 6:00pm, ESPN+)
Loudoun are 3 points better than the Three Sparks, but on one additional game. The two play here next month but any movement ahead of that game is useful. They are winless in the last four, but have had a fairly difficult schedule, managing 0-0 draws with both Detroit City and New Mexico United. The Switchbacks may not be the best team to help out. Since that rough 3-2 win over the Legion they have just 3 points from 3 games, those coming from a key 1-0 win over Lexington SC.
The Miami FC v. Pittsburgh Riverhounds (Saturday, 6:00pm, ESPN+)
Miami has been struggling; winless in 6 games. They sit in 9th in the East but are barely holding on, especially given that they have played 1 or 2 more games than the 3 teams directly behind them. The Hounds, for their part, are 2 points above Louisville City in 4th place and have played one more game. They need to win this one to keep that home playoff spot. This should be a road win, but you never know.
Rhode Island FC v. Louisville City (Saturday, 6:30pm, ESPN+)
Lou City will not be too focused on what Pittsburgh is doing as they have their own business to take care of at mostly the same time. They have not been performing well all season. This should be a good chance to earn some points. Rhode Island did beat Monterey Bay 3-1 without JJ Williams but followed that with a 0-1 loss to FC Tulsa. JJ was a key piece and his absence may mean the team will not finish the season as well as it began.
San Antonio FC v. FC Tulsa (Saturday, 7:30pm, ESPN+)
We pick one game from the Western Conference this week, and it should be a good one. San Antonio and Tulsa are 5th and 4th respectively, separated by tiebreakers only. Both teams have a no-nonsense style, so if you like your soccer rough, this is right up your alley.
Back in the Old Country
Birmingham City had a relatively good week. Last Saturday they headed to Wales to face Wrexham, coming away deserved 2-1 winners on 2 Phil Neumann goals. Tuesday they didn’t do quite as well, having to come from behind to draw Southampton at home 1-1. The Blues should have won that game as well, but Jay Stansfield missed two easy chances. The 4 points from the week leaves the team tied for 8th with Sheffield United (with whom, you may recall, the Blues drew 0-0 on opening day).
This weekend’s fixture is the home half of the local derby against Wolverhampton Wanderers (Sunday, 6:00am, Paramount+). Wolves are 4th in the table but lost 2-4 to West Ham United on Tuesday. A win would go a long way to securing Chris Davies’ job.
The transfer window is now closed and the team added one player on loan before the deadline. That is Liam Millar, a Canadian winger/striker, whom the club had been seeking to bring on board for quite a while. He is under contract to Hull City, who just returned to the Premier League last season.
Also on Sunday (8:30am, Paramount+) Birmingham City Ladies make their WSL debut with a tough road game at Manchester City, the reigning champions. The two did play last year in the FA Cup, Man City coming away 1-0 winners in a very tight game. They went on to win the Cup as well.
