BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — Birmingham Legion opened its USL Championship season with a 1-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at Protective Stadium.

Defender Alexander Crognale scored the decisive goal in the 28th minute, heading in a service from Jacob Rufe. The Legion defense made the lead stand despite playing a man down after Fernando Monárrez’s red card in the 11th minute.

Pittsburgh’s Charles Robbins Mertz had an 87th-minute goal disallowed for offside, preserving the clean sheet for Birmingham. The result defied a national statistical projection of a 1-1 draw. Birmingham begins the campaign 1-0-0, while Pittsburgh starts 0-1-0.