Photos: Marjorie Elzey
Bethlehem Steel played a physical game against Birmingham Legion on Sunday afternoon at Talen Energy Stadium. By the end of the game, four red cards and seven yellow cards were handed out to the two teams. At the final whistle, Birmingham Legion held onto the lead even with a strong last effort from the Steel.
Bethlehem Steel’s Sergio Santos gets the header even with Birmingham Legion’s Cromwell pushing from behind.
Zach Zandi charges the ball in hopes of beating goalie VanOekel to the ball.
Birmingham Legion’s Mikey Lopez looks for clarity after being issued a yellow card.
Sergio Santos is challenged by Birmingham’s Asiedu.
Santos offside.
A collision between VanOekel and Ward.
Matt Real and Santos encourage each other after a shot on goal was blocked.
A yellow card was issued to Zandi which prompted the scuffle between Santos and Zach Herivaux behind the ref’s back. Both were issued red cards and left the game.
Santos picks up his red.
Todd Morton, Bethlehem Steel’s goalie, gives some direction to the back line.
Bethlehem Steel’s Faris battles it out.
Nathan Harriel’s shot is blocked from just outside the 18.
One of many battles on the field between Bethlehem Steel and Birmingham Legion players.
Harriel makes an acrobatic leap to receive the ball.
Real gets a second-half yellow.
Bethlehem Steel’s Michee Ngalina concentrates on a solid strike on the ball.
Walter Cortes and Brian Wright battle for the ball just outside of Birmingham’s goal.
Real, wearing the armband, checks out the field before playing the ball.
Ngalina charges forward on a breakaway.
Akeem Ward of Birmingham Legion rests in the net after he helped to block a shot in the last few minutes of the game.
Bethlehem Steel players collapse on the field as the final whistle is blown.
The unidentified player for Bethlehem with the three visible on his right thigh in the single digits position might be Steve Kingue.
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The roster pages, both USLC and club, only list two players with three in the single digits place, and that is not Shanyder Borgelin who did not dress in the 18.
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The club roster page lists Kingue as #43. USLC says his number is 3, but that is probably an error of hasty data entry as by organization practice #3 would be reserved to a Union player playing down. They always wear their MLS numbers. It is definitely not Jack Elliott!