Birmingham Legion FC beat Rhode Island FC 1-0 in the USL Championship, despite being second best for long spells. Ronaldo Damus scored the only goal of the game in the 63rd minute. It was a result built on stubborn defending and a single moment of quality.
Damus put Birmingham ahead just past the hour, and that proved enough. Rhode Island responded with sustained pressure, finishing with 58% possession, 19 shots and 13 corners, but could not find an equaliser. Late yellow cards for Daniel Rovira, Jassem Koleilat and Dwayne Atkinson underlined the tension.
The standout number was in goal: Birmingham's keeper made six saves, while his opposite number had just one to make. Rhode Island dominated the shot count and the ball, yet Birmingham were the side that took their chance and collected the points.
