Birmingham Legion FC earned its second win of its debut USL season, beating previously-undefeated St Louis FC 3-2 on Saturday night on the road.

St. Louis (4-1-1) entered the game leading the USL’s Eastern Conference standings and had given up only two goals in its previous five games.

JJ Williams had the most impressive night for Legion (2-2), scoring two goals in his debut match with the squad. Williams, a Montgomery native who played travel ball in Vestavia Hills and high school at Alabama Christian, joined Legion FC just this week on loan from the MLS’s Columbus Crew.

Williams scored in the 75th and 81st minutes.

Legion FC first got on the scoreboard off Mathieu Laurent’s goal in the 38th minute. Laurent, a former UAB soccer player, scored on a header from a pass from Kyle Culbertson. Laurent left the game in the second half with an injury to his leg. He didn’t reenter and was replaced by Daigo Koboyashi.

A 👀 at the rookies first pro goal!



BHM 1 | STL 0#HammerDown | #STLvBHM pic.twitter.com/KPXBvye3Ik — Birmingham Legion FC (@bhmlegion) April 14, 2019

Birmingham went into halftime with the 1-0 lead, but St. Louis quickly drew even in the second half when it scored in the 62nd minute.

That’s when Williams, who came into the game in substitution for Birmingham native Chandler Hoffman soon after the second half started, began to make his presence known.

His first goal came off an assist from Koboyashi, as he kicked in from the top corner of the box. His second came just six minutes later when he scored on a dramatic header.

Who else other than the Bama native @JJ23Williams to give us the lead again.#HammerDown | #STLvBHM pic.twitter.com/zVxawFffJt — Birmingham Legion FC (@bhmlegion) April 14, 2019

Leading 3-1, Birmingham still had challenges from St. Louis. The home team scored in the 87th minute from a penalty shot against goalkeeper Matt Van Oekel and then had several opportunities in the five minutes of added time after regulation.

Van Oekel had a huge game, including a save in the 92nd minute that could have tied the game.

St. Louis led the match in most statistical categories, including its 60 percent possession rate and 18 shots to Birmingham’s 16. Legion FC had 16 fouls and three yellow cards called, compared to nine fouls and one yellow card called against St. Louis.

Legion FC returns to Birmingham and plays April 20, at 4 p.m., against the Swope Park Rangers at BBVA Compass Field.