St. Louis CITY SC beat Austin FC 6-3 in the team’s first MLS contest since July 15. Just as he did when the two sides clashed in CITY SC’s first-ever match, Tim Parker opened the scoring with a header. Niko Gioacchini pushed the home side’s lead to three with goals bookending the halftime break, but Austin’s Sebastián Driussi followed up by converting a penalty kick to draw the away side closer. The Verde & Black netted two more goals in a comeback effort, but a goal from Tomás Ostrák and brace from Sam Adeniran kept CITY SC ahead, helping the team secure its third consecutive home victory.
Ten MLS Goals
CITY SC forward Niko Gioacchini scored his ninth and tenth goal of the season with his brace against Austin FC. With his goals, Gioacchini extends his tally for the most goals on the team. Gioacchini is now the first player in CITY SC history to record 10 goals. Gioacchini is the 18th player to score 10+ goals for an expansion team and ranks 12th among those players in terms of fewest games played to achieve 10 goals.
Leading From the Back
CITY SC vice-captain Tim Parker has been instrumental in the team’s success so far this season. The defender has played in 21 MLS games this season, scoring four goals in the process. Parker scored the club’s first-ever goal against Austin FC in the 24th minute and scored his fourth goal against Austin tonight in the 22nd minute. Prior to joining CITY SC, Parker scored two goals in 217 games and has doubled that in 21 games for CITY SC.
Hattrick of Assists
Eduard Löwen was very involved in CITY SC’s win over Austin FC. The Designated Player pulled the strings in midfield, recording three assists. The midfielder has now provided nine assists which is tied for fifth in the league. Löwen has now recorded five total assists against Austin FC, the most by any player in MLS.
Postgame Notes
- With his goal tonight, Tim Parker has now scored in three consecutive home games (versus Colorado Rapids, Inter Miami CF and Austin FC)
- CITY SC has trailed just 100 of 1170 minutes at CITYPARK in MLS play
- With his brace, Gioacchini became the fourth CITY SC player to record a multi-goal game in MLS play (João Klauss vs Real Salt Lake, Indiana Vassilev vs Sporting Kansas City and Sam Adeniran vs San Jose Earthquakes)
- Sam Adeniran recorded his second brace of the season after scoring twice against San Jose earlier this season
- Adeniran now has five goals on the season
- Löwen’s three assists are the most single-game assists by a CITY SC player in MLS this season
- CITY SC’s six goals ties Atlanta United for the second-most goals in a single game by an expansion team in MLS play
- With three assists tonight, Löwen now has nine assists this season, tying him for the seventh-most assists by a player on an expansion team in MLS history
- CITY SC’s four players with five or more goals ties New England Revolution for the most such players on a team in MLS this season
- CITY SC is 12-0-2 in MLS play when scoring first this season
- CITY SC is 9-3-1 at CITYPARK in MLS action
- CITY SC recorded its eighth home win scoring three or more goals
- CITY SC has ten wins scoring three or more goals this season
- CITY SC has 35 goals across 13 home MLS matches
Goal-Scoring Plays
STL – Tim Parker (Eduard Löwen), 22nd minute: Tim Parker header from the center of the box to the bottom right corner.
STL – Niko Gioacchini (Eduard Löwen), 45’+2’ minute: Nicholas Gioacchini right footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom right corner.
STL – Niko Gioacchini, 50th minute: Nicholas Gioacchini right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner following a fast break.
ATX – Sebastián Driussi, 61st minute: Sebastián Driussi converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
STL – Sam Adeniran, 72nd minute: Samuel Adeniran left footed shot from the left side of the box to the top right corner.
ATX – Will Bruin (Jon Gallagher), 87th minute: Will Bruin left footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom left corner.
STL – Tomás Ostrák (Eduard Löwen), 88th minute: Tomás Ostrák right footed shot from the left side of the box to the top right corner.
ATX – Emiliano Rigoni, 90’+1’ minute: Emiliano Rigoni left footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom right corner.
STL – Sam Adeniran, 90’+5’ minute: Samuel Adeniran left footed shot from the right side of the box to the top left corner.
Next Game
CITY SC hits the road for a meeting with Orlando City SC on Saturday, August 26, at Exploria Stadium.
August 20, 2023 – CITYPARK (St. Louis, Missouri)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
St. Louis CITY SC 2 4 6
Austin FC 0 3 3
Scoring Summary
STL: Tim Parker (Eduard Löwen), 22
STL: Niko Gioacchini (Eduard Löwen), 45’+2’
STL: Niko Gioacchini, 50
ATX: Sebastián Driussi, 61
STL: Sam Adeniran, 72
ATX: Will Bruin, 87
STL: Tomás Ostrák, 88
ATX: Emiliano Rigoni, 90’+1’
STL: Sam Adeniran, 90’+5’
Misconduct Summary
STL: Njabulo Blom (caution), 16
Lineups
STL: GK Roman Bürki ©; D Akil Watts (Joakim Nilsson 87’), D Josh Yaro, D Tim Parker, D Kyle Hiebert; M Njabulo Blom (Indiana Vassilev 65’), M Eduard Löwen, M Rasmus Alm (Sam Adeniran 65’), M AZ Jackson (Tomáš Ostrák 87’), M Jared Stroud (Nökkvi Thórisson 81’); F Niko Gioacchini (Célio Pompeu 81’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Ben Lundt, D Jake Nerwinski, D Anthony Markanich
TOTAL SHOTS: 15; SHOTS ON GOAL: 10; FOULS: 11; OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 6
ATX: GK Brad Stuver; D Matt Hedges (Alex Ring 68’), D Jon Gallagher, D Julio Cascante, D Adam Lundkvist (Nick Lima 57’); M Dani Pereira, M Sebastian Driussi ©, M Owen Wolff (Jhojan Valencia 80’), F Ethan Finlay (Emiliano Rigoni 58’), F Memo Rodriguez (Gyasi Zardes 58’), F Maxi Urruti (Will Bruin 45’+5’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Matt Bersano, D Hector Jimenez, F CJ Fodrey
TOTAL SHOTS: 17; SHOTS ON GOAL: 9; FOULS: 6; OFFSIDES: 4; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 4
Referee: Tim Ford
Assistant Referees: Corey Rockwell, Kevin Lock
Fourth Official: Brad Jensen
VAR: Alejandro Mariscal
AVAR: Fabio Tovar
Venue: CITYPARK
Weather: Clear, 90 degrees
ST. LOUIS CITY SC POSTGAME QUOTES
Video: Bradley Carnell
Audio: Recordings
Bradley Carnell
Opening Statement: It’s very difficult to find the words. I would say we had a good start in the first half, and then we grabbed the early goal with Tim [Parker] in the set piece, and we showed great mentality throughout the game. I’d say during the first half, we let ourselves down a little pathway, but I would say we showed the right mentality to continue to do the right things, the right mentality to stay true to who we are and the mentality to score goals from the run of play. We had a scrimmage when the lights were off. We have always been saying that when the lights are off, we try to manipulate certain situations, and we come out of the blocks flying tonight and just show ruthlessness and a mentality and a commitment to the style of play. And then I have to give my players praise, to endure these conditions and play the way we do and the demands of the game. The players who came on, I think it’s three goals contributions from the subs that came on. Yeah, five goals from the run of play. I mean, listen, you can see when you get to 75 minutes at these conditions, I think the concentration levels for both teams just becomes a real lottery to operate under those levels of fatigue. Yeah, it was a tough slog today and credit to my boys. We stayed to it, and remained strong, scored goals by our principles, and whether you win 3-0 or 6-3, I think it was a great evening for the fans. And obviously we look at things and try and repair the goals we conceded and some late chances. But other than that, I was very happy with that performance today.
Q. Lots of positives tonight. One of them, the first minutes with Joakim Nilsson and Nökkvi Thórisson. What did you see from those guys tonight?
Nökkvi [Thórisson] showed in transition he can be a real threat with some running in behind and some clean touches, top of the box, and leading others into play and trying to search for another goal. So we saw some good things that we liked. And I think Joakim [Nilsson] just comes in a moment where there’s a bit of chaos, there’s a bit of panic, there’s a bit of defending to do. So just for me, it’s just that he gets on the field and finds comfort, finds confidence and finds safety in what we are doing. And you know, he’s got the ability now to grow every single day with us, and to continue to be an option for us. Just having his presence around the team in the locker room before the game. To endure the journey that he’s had over 15 months now, and he’s committed to the cause. He’s gone down to CITY2 and played CITY2 minutes, the most humble guy — yeah, one of most humble guys I’ve ever met, and to go through that process, and to reward him with those minutes under tough conditions is never easy. But I’m looking forward to the next couple of months with Joakim.
Q. Scoring six goals, which is no small feat but when you look at the three you allowed, just a product of being worn out?
You look at 4-1, right. 4-1 in control of the game, you give away one moment. You give away the penalty and these type of things. But again, can you blame the players with these conditions. Especially playing the way we do, and do you know, yeah, doubting that it can work. It can work. We just had to be a little bit more resilient at the end and find new ways to defend and show courage, and I think we did all of that. And just unfortunate that the concentration levels, that’s the first thing that goes with the heat. When you run out of gas, your brain is telling you to do things, but your body can’t do it anymore, and you get to feel with the players. But yeah, credit to them, they did the job early on and I think that’s what got us over the line.
Q. When Tim scores that early goal, is it a throwback to the first Austin game, the first game ever, as you set the tone there?
This whole week was like that. This whole week was talking about the first game, this whole week. We said earlier in the week with the press conference, the first half.
And we sort of rekindled some of those memories before the game as well. We watched a bit of footage before the game, post-game, and all those emotions and just get us — the pressure of not playing for five weeks, there needs to be a release, and I saw a nice release from our players tonight within our principles. So, it was just an enjoyable night, and I’m glad the fans came out with the late kickoff that it was.
Q. I’ve been very impressed give [Niko] Gioacchini’s poise, especially in the box. From a coaching standpoint, can you describe the poise you see overall?
Any goal scorer or any striker that doesn’t get a goal out of the run of play for the last couple of games, obviously they start searching for something. And in training I could see that Gio[acchini] was searching for something, just something positive.
So we have been doing a lot of work with Gio, we have been doing a lot of work with our strikers and we have had ample time to work in transition and sharpen up some of our triggers and pressing, and not just — especially in these conditions. When do you go; when is the right time to go; you don’t go all the time so you don’t get too stressed.
I thought from Gio and the supporting attackers with AZ [Jackson], as well, I thought there was a good shape to us; and getting into good shape then gets you in good spots; and then you can see as a striker, because you have more time and you can set your body, you can focus and then start to finish your final play. But it starts with the willingness to work the way we work, and then running behind and then get underneath and be an option and that’s the way we play. So it’s demanding, but also I think when you see you stick to it, the results are just as sweet.
Q. You touched on this but one of the, I guess, commentaries early on when you guys were talking about how you wanted to play was, well, there’s no way they are going to be able to do that when it’s oppressive heat in the dead of summer. Did you hear that? Were you concerned about how the style would hold up to conditions like this and what do you think was proven tonight in your first test in a situation where it could have maybe tested?
Sure, I think we were tested. Austin is great team. They are fifth in the conference. If you look at Match Day 18 through 23, they had more points than us going into this game. Credit to them. But again just showing when we are operating at certain times, and we have to be disciplined in our press. We have to be really focused at when we release because every ounce of energy that we waste is a potential target, is a potential weapon for the opponent to expose us. You could see we had moments where it’s not perfect, and I don’t think it ever will be with both styles of play. But sticking to it is the beauty of it, and when everyone is bought in and when you or score goals in transition, it energizes you one more time to keep doing what we are doing because that’s enough proof and satisfaction.
And everyone thrives on scoring goals. Everyone wants to score goals. But our way demands a lot of hard work to get to those moments.
Q. Is there a better way to say that you guys are ready for this, or put it all out there than Parker laying on the ground, looking like he had passed out on the field after the game?
Yeah, we want it dedicate this too Tim Parker, seriously, we wanted to dedicate this game to Tim. I don’t know if you are going to get to speak to Tim at all, but yeah, I mean, he has some things going on in the next couple days, and I’m sure, you know, it’s very exciting news and I’m sure he’ll let you know all about it. But yeah, this was probably for Tim. I said to him before the game, “This is for you.” I’m glad he got his goal.
Q. How are you able to keep your players calm?
I can argue we’re too calm because when we got the ball we are making silly mistakes with the ball. The best thing to do when you are leading 5-3 is to make the opponent work, make the opponent run.
But the fatigue set in earlier than we anticipated and when the fatigue sets in, then you’re not moving to be an option. You’re not moving with and without the ball. You’re not moving in transition. You’re not supporting the play. And then we are getting stretched. I would argue we didn’t do some of those things but then we made changes at crucial times and the guys that came in had a bit of energy and could finish off the final play. I’m happy for a bunch of these guys because we have a very good roster I feel now on the bench. I feel any time we start a team, it’s competitive, and that’s all the things we can ask for. But great mentality from the guys to come off the bench and show the hunger and the desire to help the team, and to help the team the way they did, then they score goals and we score goals and we all succeed.
Q. Can you talk about [Sam] Adeniran coming in as a sub?
Sam [Adeniran] is a weapon. When he comes on, just thinking about how Tim Parker felt, the other team is feeling that exact the same way. When you bring Sam on, he’s intimidating, he’s quick, he’s fast, he’s technical, he’s got a lot of space, speed and pace to get behind, and he’s shown a bit more composure.
Thinking in the final third, making meaningful play, staying on the ball, getting shots off. I thought he did really well tonight and he showed a hunger and a desire to continue to be part of this team and part of this progress and part of this journey.
So credit to everybody, Tomáš Ostrák another one who comes in and does great things and who works hard in training. Yeah, some days we have off days. Some days we have bad days and good days. But he’s a guy that’s been fighting against it a little bit just in terms of trying to get his form and trying to play through things.
So credit to him to come on and have a successful moment like that because I think that just lifts a weight of energy off his shoulders and negative energy maybe for him but it turns into positive energy for us. So resiliency for this group is key.
Q. You touched on it a second ago, getting three goals from your fresh legs, about to get Klauss back and have that roster just about complete. Have we seen yet how you’re going to be able to deploy this roster now moving forward these next several weeks?
Yeah, I think the thing I’m thinking is trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle to be successful against each opponent. So that might be in a certain formation. It might be in certain personnel. But the luxury in having that is now the competition for places.
So again, it’s up to us now to manage the group and manage the expectations and keep guys sort of modest and grounded and humble and when we get our number called that we empty the tank for the team.
So for me, I could be sitting here, another coach could be sitting here but this project is far more important than me and any other player, right. This is the journey for them. I’m accompanying the players on their journey.
But what a magnificent platform that we have been given to work. So we would be crazy to think, “If I’m getting subbed in at the 70th, eh, I’m not really valued.”
We value everybody on our roster. We value everybody. And it’s my job to keep those expectations tempered, but also to keep the edginess in the group, to keep on pushing us for the next ten games.
Q. Nico sitting on a hat trick has a breakaway, has a shot, attempt on goal, decides to pull back, pass it back to Sam for an attempt on goal. Does that frustrate you more or are you proud of your player for being selfless?
We said in transition, we could see tonight that Austin were just dropping off, so we said at halftime, stay on the ball so Gio gets time in their box and stays on the ball and brings Sam into play.
So I cannot discredit him for making that decision. And we support our players in the final third. And if he could think he had a good angle of the shot, and maybe he could have, but he thought Sam was in a better position for that moment. You know, if it goes in goal, we say great. And again, he’s just trying to be a good teammate.
Q. At the second half, hydration break, Tim looked a little miffed. What was he upset about?
Yeah, if you were a defender, too, and we had just conceded a goal and we had given up a couple of moments; but again it’s just tough out there. It’s something you’ve never experienced, I’m not sure. And just to keep on playing the way we do and the demands we set on ourselves it’s never easy, right.
So the first thing like I said in is the concentration, your body gets depleted of all energy resources and your brain just goes. It’s almost a hard reset and sometimes that’s purposeful by Tim and sometimes it’s purposeful by Roman [Bürki], me, a couple of guys, just to re-shock the system, just to clench a little more energy out of the reservoir, out of the batteries, maybe that was one of his tactics.
Q. You hate to see a guy getting a concussion, but getting a sixth sub, is that a good thing?
It helps both teams. It gives us an extra option and it gave them extra options, too, right. So you could see when they bring on two strikers with [Will] Bruin and Gyasi Zardes, then we struggled a little bit. Took a little bit of time to get recontrol of the game. But we worked it back to 4-1, and we just stepped on the gas pedal one more time.
This is the MLS. It’s good teams. [Sebastian] Driussi played on that team, don’t forget. [Emiliano] Rigoni is a DP. There’s a couple of good difference-makers on that team, including Gyasi Zardes, and all the other players that they have brought in. Yeah, that’s a very good team.
Q. Blom’s yellow card, he’s going to miss a game that. Has to be a disappointing thing, a yellow card like that?
Yeah, it is disappointing but again, players are emotional. Players are trying to gain advantage using their bodies. It’s not on purpose. I think the hand just slides up the body and hits the neck, but I don’t think that’s any malice by no means. I mean, anyone who knows Jabs, he’s the sweetest kid in the world.
So yeah, it sucks; we are going to miss him. But again, we just spoke about it, the roster is now getting stronger and healthier every day that goes by. So we’ll have options.
Eduard Löwen
On if there was any concern coming into this game due to the break…
So, I mean, we were very excited. I think that’s always good to have this excitement going on, you know, especially playing in CITYPARK. Obviously, a huge excitement in front of these fans is always just amazing. We just enjoy to play in front of our own fans. And so, I think we weren’t worried too much. We didn’t put too much pressure on ourselves. We just wanted to, yeah, play, play with freedom, play without pressure and play with joy. And I think that’s what we did tonight.
On how they adjust to not let the heat affect their style of play…
Yeah, I mean, for sure. We are also training in hot weather, but obviously it’s still not the same. A game is way, way more intense, but we want to play it at our best — doesn’t matter the weather, if it’s cold, if it’s hot, if it’s, I don’t know, warm or whatever. You know, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter because we don’t have these things under control. And so, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter for us. We always want to put in every effort we can, yeah, give on a pitch. Yeah, that’s what we tried to do.
On conceding three goals tonight…
Yeah, I mean, for sure, everybody was worn out and I think that is true, but I think then we have to be smarter, you know. We made the game sometimes too quick. We made it harder on ourselves. It was 4-1, okay. We gave up a penalty, but at 4-1 we have to keep the ball more, let Austin run a little bit more. But, we lost too many balls and made it hard on ourselves, you know. That was unnecessary. And then we had to suffer even more. And then yeah, we didn’t take the deep runs when they were running in behind. We didn’t take the run. Of course, everybody was very worn out, and then at the end of the day, you can see so many goals, and Roman even made some big saves.
Niko Gioacchini
On what it feels like to score two goals…
Yeah, it definitely feels good. As I say, you know, it’s something where your confidence shoots right back up, especially when it has been, what, a month now? So, I’m happy about that aspect. You know, we kind of keep that positive attitude going into the next game and coming to this week, getting ready for our away game. And you know, it’s definitely going to be showing in Florida.
On scoring his second goal…
I mean, goalie came back — well, I probably should have gone with my left foot, but, you know, once I hit it, I saw him coming back and he saved it. I had to get up quickly in order to make sure that it went in the back of the net. That would have been a big miss. So, you know, with instincts, I got up a little bit quicker than the defender did, and I managed to beat him to the ball in seconds, which is good. I was so tired after the sprint, but that’s something where, you know, those goals make a big difference.
On having a three-week break…
It was great. It was definitely tough physically to get back into match fitness, match form, but that’ll come with the games coming in the weeks of training. Definitely something that we needed was ten days off. It was definitely great for the mind, to recuperate, think about something else and come back to training with a different attitude or a stronger will to finish off the season.
Tim Parker
On playing 100 minutes….
We could have managed the second half better, especially at home. We were up four to one, and we were just a little naive in the way we were going about things. I think that’s why we leaked a couple of goals on our end. But, I mean, granted the guys are putting the ball in the net on for us as well, but I think we have to be able to control that game a little bit better. Come the end of the year, come playoffs, we want to close the door on teams.
On being visibly upset during the game…
Yeah, I think we have to be better on the ball and better at managing moments of the game. We were up four to one. We can put that team away by just keeping the ball away from them and letting them do the chasing. It was a hot day. Instead, we’re the ones doing the chasing, and it leads to a lot of guys getting really tired.
On playing under hot conditions…
It takes a lot of discipline. I think we could have been better at it as well. Playing in those kinds of conditions, playing our way is something that we have to pride ourselves on, and that’s why we were able to get results here at home by playing the way we want to play.
Sam Adeniran
On his first goal…
Yeah, I think it was Cascante, the defender. He was cutting me off, coming onto my left foot. And I kind of saw that angle, so I just hit it.
On how the team’s internal competition at striker makes him feel…
Yeah, competition makes you better, pressure makes you better. So, I think if you’re shying away from the opportunity to have pressure, then you’re never going to be able to reach your full potential.
On whether there were a few times it seemed like the game was over…
Definitely. Like I said, you know, when you have a team like Austin, you’ve always got to stay on your toes. Whether it’s the first minute or the 90th minute, you always have to be prepared. A team like Austin can come back on you no doubt, and they’re capable of doing that. So, you always got to be prepared
