ST PETERSBURG, Florida, CMC – Reggae Boy forward Neco Brett netted a brace as Birmingham Legion marched to their third straight win in the United Soccer League with a 2-0 victory over Tampa Bay Rowdies last weekend.
The 31-year-old debuted for Jamaica last May against Catalonia but has yet to play since he scored deep in first-half stoppage before adding his second in the 82nd minute at Al Lang Stadium.
With the win, Legion opened up a four-point lead at the top of the Eastern Conference, with FC Tulsa, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, and Louisville City all chasing on six points.
“I think everybody has a purpose, and obviously, one of the reasons why Neco is here is because he can score goals,” said Legion head coach Tommy Soehn.
“He’s also a great teammate, and he fits our ideas. Having guys like Juan [Agudelo] with hold-up play, Enzo [Martinez] will compress like crazy, when [Tyler] Pasher is on, he can get in behind, and Neco is that guy in the box that if you give him a look, he’s going to finish.”
Playing on Saturday on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the visitors were on the offensive from the outset, Martinez forcing a save out of goalkeeper Phil Breno as early as the second minute before Brett’s freekick, a low drive from 20 yards out, moved the custodian into action again in the 10th minute.
They went ahead in the dying moments of the first half. However, Kasim Prosper floated a lovely cross into the box for Brett to clinically put a stooping header past Breno from the middle of the pack.
Collin Smith nearly extended Legion’s lead in the 81st, but Breno saved his low shot, and moments later, Brett provided his side with the crucial second goal to complete his brace.
Seventeen-year-old midfielder Matthew Corcoran ran onto a long clearance from substitute goalkeeper Trevor Spangenberg. He held off defender Aaron Guillen down the right-hand side before squaring for Brett, who out-paced the two center-backs to poke him from close range.
“I saw the space and just took off,” said Corcoran. “I looked up and saw Neco on tonnes of space, so I had to get him the ball, and Neco did what he does best [which is the] score.”
The brace took Brett to a record 29 goals for Legion and 75 USL goals, leaving him fifth in the all-time standings.
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