Legion FC thrash Memphis 3-0 in opener

Legion FC started off the season in perfect form with an impressive 3-0 win against Memphis 901 FC in the opening game of the 2020 USL season at BBVA Field.

After a 22nd minute goal from Legion newcomer and former Wake Forest star Bruno Lapa, the boys in black never looked back.

As Legion back Jonathan Dean chipped a ball over a Memphis defender inside the box, Bruno Lapa found himself in the right place at the right time, drilling a bouncing ball over former USMNT keeper Tim Howard and into the back of the net.

The 23-year-old Lapa was not finished putting together a debut performance to remember.

Shortly after, Lapa bagged his first professional assist in the 31st minute, receiving the ball on the left wing, beating a defender and knocking a low, driven ball into the box for a sliding Brian Wright to drill into the back of the net.

The Legion would collect an additional goal before halftime, once again from Lapa, to expose a helpless Memphis defense and an out-of-position, washed up Tim Howard.

That 3-0 halftime would remain the scoreline for the rest of the contest, and the only other excitement came from a red card moment when a Memphis defender grabbed onto a streaking Brian Wright for over three seconds to prevent him from a 1v1 with Howard.

After the game, the Man of the Match was no doubt, awarded to Lapa. His debut performance was one for the books and certainly offers Legion fans lots of hope moving forward. To have such an impact in his opening contest with the lads was something special to watch and will certainly be significant moving forward. His quickness and determination on the wing was something that can be utilized in a very positive way this year.

All in all, for the first game of the season, the boys looked calm and collected, put together great passes, and finished attacking chances perfectly. It’s also important to note that this fantastic performance was displayed without the likes of the suspended Anderson Asiedu and Neco Brett (recovering from an injury) for over 80 minutes of gameplay.

We can only hope that the Legion continue this incredible form, but it is safe to say with an inexperienced opponent like Memphis, teams will not be that easy to defeat, especially on the road. Memphis seemed to give up and ignore any attacking moments in the second half, protecting any dignity they had left, and other teams will simply not do the same.

At a minimum, we saw some great play from the boys and can get excited about the upcoming matches.

Legion FC will return to action as they face off against Charleston Battery away on Sunday, July 19 at 7:00 PM CT. The match can be viewed locally on MY68 and nationally on ESPN+.

Photo courtesy of Aryan Caplash.