It may have been lost in your weekend, but our STLFC tried to remain undefeated this past Saturday…the crowd showed and screamed through the mist and rain…but was it enough?
With the skies threatening the Meramec River valley and the temperature slowly dropping back into early spring, the pitch was prepared for a Saturday night clash with Birmingham Legion FC. Your STLFC sat atop their table with 4 wins, 1 draw, and 0 losses. While Legion FC was coming off a win and looking to navigate their way up the standings and out of the lower third of the league.
STLFC was coming off of a convincing win at Atlanta and were determined to keep their forward momentum in tact, and tighten their grasp on the top of the league. The first half did not go as planned. Under a cloudy, gun barrel blue sky Birmingham dominated possession and controled the flow and tempo of the match. STLFC did have their opportunities with several shots on net, but to no avail.
The bending STLFC defense finally broke in the 37th minute and Legion FC took a 1-0 lead into the locker room. The temperature continued to drop…and mist began to fall and thicken, and the crowd became subdued.
Questions surrounded the break. Could STLFC change the momentum of the game? Could they capitalize on all of the opportunities they were being handed? Could they weather to chill of the St. Louis night and rally to knock off a team that they have no excuse to lose to? Only the final 45ish minutes would tell.
Photo Credit: Gavin Ashton
The rain fell harder…and harder still. STLFC was able to even things up in the 62nd minute with an amazing cross by Matt Bahner onto the head of Joaquin Rivas and buried into the back of the net. It was as beautiful a goal you will see this side of the Atlantic…but it would not be enough.
Birmingham would jump out to a commanding 3-1 lead after substitutions gave them fresh legs and new life. A late penalty kick by Sam Fink brought the FC to within one, but that is as close as it would get. The rain pooled around the pitch, stoppage time wound to nothing, and the gentleman headed home with their first loss of the season.
The squad has a week to linger on the loss until they head east to the Keystone State to take on the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. STLFC remains atop the table despite the loss, but the Riverhouds are coming off of 2 straight wins and will bring everything they have to try and knock off the top ranked team. Can STL regroup and regain form? Can Hilton Lewis regain his touch from the corner? Will Fink continue to find the back of the net when it is needed most? We shall find out next Saturday.
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