St. Louis CITY SC fell 2-1 to Seattle Sounders FC at CITYPARK. After the teams played to a scoreless first half, Seattle went ahead after St. Louis conceded an own goal in the 66th minute and then doubled their advantage three minutes later. CITY SC halved the deficit after Eduard Löwen delivered a fantastic ball to Tomas Totland in the 82nd minute, but the team could not find the equalizer in the remaining time.
Postgame Notes
- Tomas Totland scored his second goal of the season
- Totland’s goal marked the first time CITY SC scored against Seattle in three games played
- With his assist, Eduard Löwen recorded his third assist of the season
- The helper was his first goal contribution since March 9
- With his assist, Löwen now has 18 goal contributions (12 assists and 6 goals) in 18 games at CITYPARK
- It was the ninth time in fourteen MLS matches that CITY SC recorded more shots and shots on target than their opponent
- It was the seventh time this season that CITY SC held their opponent to three or fewer shots on target
Goal-Scoring Plays
SEA: Kyle Hiebert (own goal), 66th minute – Kyle Hiebert scored an own goal from the right side of the box
SEA: Jordan Morris (Albert Rusnak), 69th minute – Jordan Morris scored with right footed shot from the center of the box.
STL: Tomas Totland (Eduard Löwen), 82nd minute – Tomas Totland scored with right footed shot from the center of the box.
May 25, 2024 – CITYPARK (St. Louis, Missouri)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
St. Louis CITY SC 0 1 1
Seattle Sounders FC 0 2 2
Scoring Summary
SEA: Kyle Hiebert (own goal), 66
SEA: Jordan Morris (Albert Rusnak), 69
STL: Tomas Totland (Eduard Löwen), 82
Misconduct Summary
STL: Indiana Vassilev (caution), 35
STL: Njabulo Blom (caution), 39
STL: Chris Durkin (caution), 48
SEA: Kalani Kossa-Rienzi (caution), 80
SEA: Yeimar Gomez Andrade (caution), 85
SEA: Paul Rothrock (caution), 90+1
Lineups
STL: GK Roman Bürki ©; D Tomas Totland, D Tim Parker, D Joakim Nilsson, D Kyle Hiebert; M Chris Durkin, M Njabulo Blom (Aziel Jackson 70’), M Célio Pompeu, M Indiana Vassilev (Nökkvi Thórisson 57’), M Rasmus Alm (Eduard Löwen 70’); F Klauss
Substitutes Not Used: GK Ben Lundt, D Akil Watts, M Hosei Kijima, F Sam Adeniran, D Anthony Markanich, D Josh Yaro
TOTAL SHOTS: 25; SHOTS ON GOAL: 5; FOULS: 14; OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 0
SEA: GK Stefan Frei ©; D Jackson Ragen, D Yeimar Gomez Andrade, D Cody Baker (Reed Baker-Whiting 61’); M Joao Paulo (Kalani Kossa-Rienzi 78’), M Cristian Roldan, M Albert Rusnak, M Alex Roldan (Paul Rothrock 87’), M Obed Vargas; F Raul Ruidiaz (Danny Musovski 78’), F Jordan Morris
Substitutes Not Used: GK Andrew Thomas, D Stuart Hawkins, M Danny Leyva, M Sota Kitahara, M Dylan Teves
TOTAL SHOTS: 7; SHOTS ON GOAL: 1; FOULS: 9; OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: 4
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
Assistant Referees: Matthew Nelson, Ricardo Ocampo
Fourth Official: JC Griggs
VAR: Carol Anne Chenard
AVAR: Fabio Tovar
Venue: CITYPARK
Weather: Sunny, 80 degrees
ST. LOUIS CITY SC POSTGAME QUOTES
Audio: Recording
Video: Footage (Password: HZTw=af8)
Head Coach Bradley Carnell
Opening statement:
Yeah, good evening. Thank you, everybody. Yeah, before the game, we were left with a bit of spontaneity. Had to replace Tomáš Ostrák with Njabulo Blom. Yesterday he took a knock in training and tried to continue; he just couldn’t. This morning, having treatment – unfortunately he couldn’t start the game. Yeah, and I think over the last couple of games we could see a small absence in the heart of that midfield.
So having said that, you know, to play a game as we did, just looked at all the statistics. I think such a dominating performance from the boys. I see a lot of potential in these guys. And yeah, it’s almost a pity and it’s a shame that we don’t get anything out of these games. Today more so than ever, I think one shot on target for Seattle, and they scored two goals.
Yeah, sometimes when you’re in a bit of a hole and you’re in a bit of a rut, small things go against you. But you know, I can like the urgency and energy of the last ten minutes of the game. You could sense it. You could feel something coming. You could feel something brewing which was maybe lacking a little bit in the first half.
You know, if I had only one wish from that first half was a little bit more urgency to come off the block flying. Again, we don’t get anything out of this game, but we keep on going.
On the that being, are there too many shots right at the opposing goalie? Seems like they are right in the goalie’s chest nearly every time.
What do you want me to say about that one?
Do you feel that’s the case, and if so, does that reflect something about the team in some way?
I don’t know, 22 shots, seven on target, six corners. Again, sometimes you can dominate in every category but if you don’t dominate the score line, you don’t win games.
So again, we will continue to continue on our pathway of what we believe a success looks like, right. Whether that’s in training, whether that’s in games, whether that’s personnel, whether that’s decisions that are uncomfortable, we will continue to look through every scenario to try and mitigate through this moment.
The boost at the end, how much of that was obviously the situation of trying to catch up, and does the presence of Löwen on the field —
Sure, I mean, I think you can see a sense of urgency, sure, when he comes in. But there’s a respect factor for the opponent, as well, that Edu Löwen is now on the field. They know every dead ball scenario; they know every cross; they know every moment; Edu can make a play. It’s good to have him on the field.
It’s good for him to be free in this moment to isolate him in the soccer field in the game, just to focus for the next ten minutes, 12 minutes, 15 minutes, whatever it was, just on something where he’s got a soccer ball and with his teammates.
You know, I thought he did a heck of a job and gave us a lot of inspiration and a lot of life.
When Nökkvi comes on for Indiana Vassilev in the 56th minute, it seemed like you were giving him a lot of instruction before he came on. Was that a relay of the formational shift as he came in or what were you telling him in that moment?
No, the formational shift was fine. It was more positional with Rasmus Alm stepping up as a second striker with Klauss, and then he took over the role of the right ten position.
So, for him it was more just a tactical detail of what I wanted in the pressing and what I wanted in the attack.
Yeah, I thought he did a decent job.
And that was one of his longer appearances lately. How did you feel he did in general?
He’s earned it. Guys that are working hard in training and put themselves about, they get rewarded.
Going back to that same shift, what goes into the decision to, instead of putting Célio up as a second striker, going with Alm? I know they had they can Alm out of the game at times on the right side. Was it getting him involved in a different way while still getting wide with Célio’s play, or was it all about the press?
Yeah, I thought you could sense Célio getting, in the final third, a lot more on the ball. We got into better pockets in the second half just off the shoulder of Roldán. Célio is always dangerous when he’s cutting in, and yeah, we like Célio up top, too.
But I think Rasmus is the automatic choice because we rotate him inside, anyways. So yeah, that was the play on that one. Pretty much what you saw.
What’s your message to the team after a performance like this? They dominate in so many categories, yet they come out on the losing end and have lost three straight now?
Yeah, if we were only in the sport only for the good times and the wins and what-have you, then we would be dreaming, right. It would be a fairy tale and there’s always two sides to reality, right.
So, to pick yourself up and to bottle everything up in those last ten minutes, you could just see and sense a feeling of urgency, willingness, conviction, pride. So, a lot of these things played in the last ten minutes that we weren’t okay with what’s gone on here, and that, for me, was good to see from the boys, you know, a response.
So yeah, we’ve got a tough uphill stretch now, right. So, there’s no easy games. There’s been none since match day one, and every goal, every point is hard-earned for us.
Again, I see a lot of potential in this group, in my group. So, we will continue to do what we believe in and focus on our principles, and make sure that we come out next time and play with a lot more urgency and energy and conviction.
I don’t know how much you check social media but there was a social media buzz over the last few days about fans wearing gray because that’s the color for brain cancer awareness, and it was pretty clear when Edu checked into the game, the support that he had, and a lot of fans wearing gray and there were some signs. What was your point of view of when he checked into the game and how the fans have supported around him?
Yeah, it’s been incredible. It’s credibly humbling to know that Edu has the support structure around him, not just within the club but also in the outside world.
If I know Edu as well as I do know him, Edu is not looking for any attention. He’s not looking for any — anything. He just wants the best possible scenario for Ilona, and just to continue playing soccer. That brings a lot of joy to him and his teammates.
Yeah, it’s incredible support. It’s incredibly humbling, and yeah, sometimes there’s words that I’m missing in these types of moments because it’s something that has never been part of what we’ve had to deal with.
So again, these are new moments for us, but again, Edu is not looking for any attention. He just want to do his job and play the best to his ability and inspire his teammates, but with that, he’s actually inspiring all of us because of this journey him and Ilona are on.
Yeah, thank you, again, to everybody. It was a massive gesture and we truly appreciate it.
The defense was — just smothered Seattle. What was the key for them doing the job they did? Not many chances for the Sounders?
Yeah, they have some tricky players and they have many tricky ways to get at you, and that starts with Ruidiaz and Morris up top. So Morris in the wing play with balls in behind or in isolation with 1v1s, I thought we did a hell of a job. I thought we smothered them.
I thought, yeah, playing with three defenders, essentially, with Totland, as well, in the attack and then when we defend, yes, we are in a four. But when we have the ball, we feel we are at our most vulnerable, and I thought for the most part, we were able to mitigate that and force Morris to defend a lot deeper than he usually does.
Again, it’s a real shame and a pity that we sit here empty handed. But these are the moments we have to get out and get our chest out and embrace these moments. Because these are challenging times, and this challenges me as a coach, and challenges the players as well. Because nobody is happy here after a performance like that, which was a really positive and encouraging one; to get nothing out of it hurts.
But now we have to continue to grow and learn how to be ruthless in the box because we need — you know, we are not getting too many chances. We have to now take them. We have to make sure we do something like the last ten minutes to will each other to success. That’s the message for the boys.
Is there a little frustration as a coach of how much you can control the schemes, stopping shots from coming in, you’re creating your shots but the finishing part that you can’t really have any control over, is there a frustrating part of it where the one thing that you guys don’t have right now is a part that you can’t affect in the game in any way?
Yeah, I mean, I wish it was that easy. I take a lot of ownership and I take a lot of pride in what I do. You know, we like to think that we’ve covered all the corners and even trying to free up the guys in the best spots possible for them to get maybe the time, the angle, you know, the moment, the cross.
So we look at all these plays, right, so every team poses a different structure in the box especially. So yeah, I challenge the staff; they challenge me; the players challenge me. And then we go and try and execute on game day, and this is the story as a pro. This is the story of our lives.
So again, none of us are happy about the situation. Let that be clear. We’ve experienced far better. We’ve had a lot more joy. We’ve had a lot more smiles on our faces. But that doesn’t mean we get up in the morning and go again, and then that’s been the message for the boys.
Ostrák, do you think it’s anything long term?
I really can’t — the focus was on the game today. We had to get Jabs notified early to make sure he’s ready to go.
So, I haven’t even focused on that. We’ll be in tomorrow and assess and see what’s on. We have a massive week before us now before we head to Miami.
Is that why Hiebert started today?
With?
You were talking about three in the back defending.
We defended in four. When we have the ball, we defend in a three.
Is that why you went with Hiebert rather than Markanich?
Yeah, I just thought there’s good momentum and I thought Kyle has done a hell of a job in training. I thought he’s done well in games.
So, when you try and now find a good structure, good rhythm, and yeah, we just want to make sure that we are keeping ticking along. You know, there’s competition for places and nuances. There’s small moments that maybe one is in, maybe one is out, right, and that was one of the decisions today with Anthony.
But Anthony has done a great job. He’s done nothing wrong. He’s played well. This was just the decision today.
How maddening are plays like that first goal, blocks the shot and the bounce it takes?
Yeah, it’s always an after the fact. I know we were down to ten players. So, Klauss was on the sideline and we are trying to get him in.
Again, even so, I have to look at it back again. I’m not sure how they get two plays through and out wide. It’s always, usually for me, it’s not the play had a happens. I go connect the dots three, four, five passes behind there, and see what goes on. Yes, I know we had a man down and we’ll have to look at that ask see how we can mitigate that.
Tomas Totland
On Eduard Löwen’s return:
You know, Edu is so good. When he’s on the ball, you feel comfortable that he is not going to lose it there. Yeah, on that goal I see him getting the ball and I know that he will find me and that’s why I make that run. Yeah, great ball by Edu.
On losing three in a row:
You know, it’s you always go out of the game and look at the positives. And, like, today, you know, we could have easily won this game if we scored on our chances. I had one in the first half that I should have gotten on the target at least and, you know, if we can start to score those goals, we’re going to win games.
On having dangerous moments throughout the game:
For sure. You know, after this game, I have this feeling that we that we should have won this game. You know, they — I don’t think they had more than two or three shots on target, and it felt like we were all over them. So yeah, super, super disappointing that they scored on their two chances, and we didn’t score on ours. But yeah, the game is passed, and we have to look towards Miami.
Eduard Löwen
On the fan support for his return to CITYPARK:
Yeah, the welcome of the fans was definitely amazing and something I looked forward to for a long time. So that was, besides that we didn’t win the game, it was great. And I’m very thankful how the fans treated me.
On how the team’s urgency changed towards the end of the game:
I mean, I tried to give the team the best impact I could. I think, like, in this situation, I was about to come into the game one zero and then we concede the second goal. Yeah, but I think we came good back in a really good way. I think we had a lot of chances. And I think Seattle goes home very happy and also kind of lucky with the three points. But I mean, at the end of the day, they don’t care. And sometimes you just got to take two chances, you get in the game and win the game. Obviously, the first one is not even the chance. It’s well defended by Kyle [Hiebert], but there’s nothing he can do. There’s nothing Roman [Bürki] can do. It’s just very unlucky.
On coming back into the team the last two games:
Yeah, obviously, I didn’t have the easiest of situations coming back into these two games because in Cincinnati, we were two-one down. Now we were down two to zero. So yeah, it wasn’t as easy, but it was definitely good. And as I said, like, we created a lot of chances, and I think we could have scored, like, the second one or almost had to score the second one. And I think even a win would have been possible today. But yeah, it didn’t come out that way. But we just got to keep going.
