STLFC can’t shake off the slow start, fall 2-1 to Cincinnati FC.
Three games in a row STLFC have given up goals in the opening 10 minutes of the game.
Three games in a row STLFC have left the park disappointed. Unfortunately Saturday night didn’t change much for St. Louis.
Cincinnati FC forward Omar Cummings didn’t wait long to open the scoring, netting his second goal on the season as he slipped behind the STLFC defense.
Cummings looked offside, but the call wasn’t made and he used the distraction to beat the goalie near post and give Cincinnati FC an early 1-0 lead in the 8th minute.
“We just can’t continue to have these slow starts that we are having” said head coach Dale Schilly. “We’ve got to get acclimated to the game earlier.”
STLFC chose not to get acclimated to the game however. Cincinnati did whatever they wanted to do in the first half, dominating possession.
When STLFC got their hands on the ball they gave it right back on turnovers from sloppy passes and mental mistakes.
In the second half STLFC played with a sense of urgency and it showed in their play.
A turnover in the backend gave Eric Stevenson an easy tap in-goal in the 78 minute.
STLFC came responded right away with attacking play.
Substitute Schilllo Tshuma made the most of his opportunity by netting his second goal this season on a cross from Jordan Roberts in the 84th minute to make it 2-1.
It was a little to late though as the goal came with only six minutes remaining in the game.
“We really need to get going early in the next game” Tshuma said. “We have to get in early and get our marks. We need to make sure we go 15 or 20 minutes where we don’t get scored on.”
STLFC made a furious attempt to tie the score in the closing moments.
Tsdhuma sent in corner kicks twice only to find a Cincinnati defender on the other end.
The final whistle blew as the Cincinnati goalie punched a cross out into the crowd.
STLFC fell to 6-7-5, their first conference home loss this season, while Cincinnati improved to 10-3-4 on the season.
Even more alarming, STLFC drops to 1-3-1 in their last five games.
STLFC travels to Tulsa Friday to take on the Roughnecks. STLFC beat Tulsa 7-1 on June 11.
Overall St. Louis didn’t lose any position in the Western Conference Standings. They sit in 6th place with a great chance to make the playoffs.
Game Ball: Omar Cummings (Cincinnati FC)
Cummings was the best played on the field scoring once and assisting on the game-winning goal.
Reason to panic:
With the second half started STLFC needs to fix its early game problems fast.The team has looked flat the beginning stages in the last five games. Not to mention early goals in the last three games have cost them wins.
Reasons to calm down:
The team receives better results at home, coupled with the fact that seven of the next twelve are home games. While the competition is stiff it’s always better to play in front of your own fans as oppose to someone else’s.
