Brett rides luck to secure point for Legion FC
Jamaican Neco Brett netted the 50th goal of his United Soccer League career to help Birmingham Region FC rescue a point at Louisville FC in a 1-1 stalemate on Saturday, and avoid their second straight loss of the campaign.
Pat McMahon’s third minute strike handed the hosts an early lead which held until the hour mark when the full back tripped Brett in the box and the 29-year-old put away the resulting penalty on the second attempt.
Brett, who featured for Jamaica at the Under-20 level, joined Legion ahead of the 2020 season to finish with nine goals last term.
Playing in front of a half-capacity crowd at Lynn Family Stadium due to COVID-19 regulations, Louisville snatched the lead when Corben Bone swung a corner into the box and McMahon eluded his marker Mikey Lopez to beat goalkeeper Matt van Oekel to his right with a powerful header.
Legion FC drew level 15 minutes after half-time, however, when 19-year-old Puerto Rican Jaden Servania produced a surging run from midfield and laid off to his left for Brett who was caught by McMahon just side the area.
Brett was then twice denied by goalkeeper Chris Hubbard who was subsequently adjudged to have come off his line, forcing the penalty to be retaken.
Brett made no mistake the second time, putting it beyond Hubbard’s reach into the far right corner.
Cameron Lancaster, in the 70th and Jonathan Gomez six minutes later, both had the chance to restore the hosts’ lead but van Oekel kept their low goal-bound drives out.
“It was collective. Everybody battled and competed. It’s tough going down that early and they found a way to come back and compete and at least come out of here with a point,” said Legion FC head coach, Tommy Soehn.
The point for Legion FC was their first of the new season following defeat in their opener last week, and lie fifth in the Central Division, three points off second placed Louisville.