Pre-match Preview: The final home match of 2024

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - St. Louis CITY SC will return to CITYPARK this weekend to host Houston Dynamo FC in its final home match of the 2024 MLS season.

Following a 1-0 loss on the road against LAFC, St. Louis’ match against Houston will be one of two remaining matches to wrap up the year.

Last Time Out

St. Louis CITY SC fell 1-0 to Western Conference powerhouse LAFC at BMO Stadium Wednesday night.

The lone goal came off the foot of LAFC star forward Denis Bouanga in first half stoppage time. A rocket from just outside the box and there was nothing Ben Lundt could do about it.

This loss brought an end to a four-match unbeaten streak on the road for CITY. It also marked Eduard Löwen’s 50th MLS match, and Jake Girdwood-Reich’s first MLS start.

What’s Next

St. Louis will host Houston Dynamo FC for its final home match of the 2024 season.

Previously, both sides met in a 0-0 draw in May. Before that, Houston knocked St. Louis out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup thanks to a 1-0 win on the road.

The Dynamo currently holds the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference. This meeting will be the second of two matches for the club this week. This past Wednesday, Houston secured a 2-1 win over the New England Revolution. They’ve only lost once in their last five.

Forward Ibrahim Aliyu leads the attacking charge for this side. The 22-year-old Nigerian has scored six times in 32 matches. Aliyu is followed by senior midfielder Latif Blessing and senior forward Sebastián Ferreira, each with five scores on the year. Midfielder Amine Bassi has been the go-to assist man for Houston this year. The 26-year-old Frenchman has eight assists through 29 starts for his club.

Houston’s defense has undoubtedly been the key to its success this year. The Dynamo’s 35 goals allowed is second in the entire league. Currently, they tie St. Louis with 43 total goals scored.

St. Louis went with a different lineup for its Wednesday road match against LAFC.

Among the notable changes; Ben Lundt took over goalkeeping duties, giving Roman Bürki the night off. Jake Nerwinski and Jay Reid held down the wings as CITY’s fullbacks. And Joakim Nilsson made a long-awaited return alongside Henry Kessler at center back. Eduard Löwen, Rasmus Alm, and Marcel Hartel were ed by Jake Girdwood-Reich. The 20-year-old Australian made his first career MLS start since ing St. Louis over the summer.

St. Louis’ Cedric Teuchert and Eduard Löwen ed forward João Klauss in the goalscoring leaderboard this past weekend. Teuchert and Löwen both brought their scoring totals to five, tying Klauss for most in the club. Löwen is also tied with midfielder Indiana Vassilev for most assists on the roster (4).

Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at CITYPARK.

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