BIRMINGHAM (DA) — Eloy Room made a late stop and Jürgen Locadia pushed Miami FC’s attack as Miami earned a 0-0 draw against Birmingham Legion FC on Thursday night in the USL Championship at Protective Stadium.
Room protected the clean sheet in stoppage time, saving Serge Ngoma’s left-footed shot from the center of the box in the 90th+3 minute. The Curaçao goalkeeper also stopped Gevork Diarbian in the 36th minute and Peter-Lee Vassell in the 65th.
The shutout moved Room to 4 clean sheets this season, placing him among the league leaders behind Orange County SC goalkeeper Alex Rando, who has 5.
Locadia was one of Miami’s most active attacking players. He won free kicks in dangerous areas and had two chances in the 73rd minute, with Birmingham goalkeeper Jassem Koleilat saving his left-footed shot from outside the box and then his header from the center of the area.
Miami also nearly broke through in stoppage time when Joel Soñora’s right-footed shot from the center of the box was saved by Koleilat in the 90th+2 minute.
Birmingham had more of the ball, finishing with 54% possession, and won 5 corners to Miami’s 3. Miami held the edge in duel success rate and aerial duels won, while the teams traded chances in a match that stayed tight until the final whistle.
The draw left Miami FC fourth in the Eastern Conference with 13 points from 9 matches. Birmingham remained sixth with 10 points from 8 matches.