What do you need to look for as Birmingham Legion FC hosts Ottawa Fury FC in the second game for the new franchise on Saturday?

The match comes after Legion FC lost its season opener 2-0 to Bethlehem Steel FC before a big crowd last week at BBVA Compass Field on Birmingham’s Southside. Ottawa finished its first match in a 1-1 draw on the road at the Charleston Battery.

The Canadian squad travels further south for its first meeting with Eastern Conference foe Birmingham, with Saturday’s match set to begin at 7 p.m.

Both Birmingham and Ottawa struggled in their opening matches to secure goals when given opportunities and have focused during the run-up to their meeting on taking better advantages of scoring chances.

Birmingham dominated its opener against Bethlehem in the first half, but in the second half missed connecting on available shots in the second.

“We had tons of opportunities and we didn’t take advantage,” Legion coach Tom Soehn said. “When you let a team stick around they can punish you."

After scoring in the fifth minute of its draw with Charleston, the Fury’s offense struggled.

“The difference (between a win and the draw) was the small details that allowed them to equalize the game. However, we had a lot of chances to put ourselves further ahead but unfortunately we weren’t able to close the game,” Ottawa coach Nicola Popvic said after the game.

Ottawa’s lone goal was scored by Francois Oliveira. Also be on the lookout for defender and captain Carl Haworth, who has played in 125 matches for Fury FC, scoring 16 goals and providing 15 assists in five seasons.

Ottawa added 11 new players this season, including experienced players Christiano François, Charlie Ward, Wal Fall and Dakota Barnathan.

Birmingham was led last week by Prosper Kasim’s four shot opportunities and 41 passes and Daniel Johnson’s three shots and 73 touches. Look also to the play of Femi Hollinger-Janzen, Daigo Kobayashi and Birmingham’s native and Oak Mountain grad Chandler Hoffman for potentially-exciting offensive production.

Goalkeeper Matt VanOekel is back from injury reserve and is expected to start in goal for the Legion.

Birmingham should be bolstered by the addition of midifelder Zach Herivaux and forward Brian Wright, both on loan from the MLS’s New England Revolution.

Off the pitch, Legion fans have plenty of look forward to at the evening match.

The Legion FC Plaza opens at 5 p.m. on Saturday and will feature $2 green beer (while supplies last) for a “St. Paddy’s Plaza Party.” A variety of food trucks, concessions and interactive games are also available in the fan area, and seating areas will be open an hour before the start of the match.

All four USL expansion teams had sellout attendance in their franchise openers last weekend, including Birmingham’s announced 5,807. A record 91,425 fans attended 17 matches across the USL.

For more information and to buy tickets for Saturday’s match, visit Birmingham Legion FC’s website.