MLS St. Louis City SC

St. Louis CITY SC Takes Home a Point in 2-2 Draw with LA Galaxy

Published on September 11, 2023 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
St. Louis City SC News Release


LOS ANGELES - St. Louis CITY SC earned a point on the road in a 2-2 draw against LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park. St. Louis came flying out the gates with Sam Adeniran scoring the opener four minutes into the game. João Klauss doubled CITY SC's lead in the 28th minute to give the away side a 2-0 lead heading into halftime. LA Galaxy won and converted a penalty in the 53rd minute through Riqui Puig, before Billy Sharp equalized in the 82nd minute to ensure the points were shared on the night.

Big Sam on Fire

Samuel Adeniran continued his hot streak in front of goal. Adeniran opened the scoring against LA Galaxy in the 4th minute of play, marking the second time in the last two games that he scored the game's opening goal. Adeniran is now on seven MLS goals in eight starts and has found the back of the net five times in the last six games.

Postgame Notes

CITY SC remains at the top of the Western Conference with 48 points.

With two goals against LA Galaxy, St. Louis has now scored a league leading 55 goals

Sam Adeniran scored his seventh MLS goal for CITY SC in his eighth start of the season

Of Adeniran's seven goals, four have been the opener (against San Jose, Inter Miami, Sporting KC and LA Galaxy)

In his first start since April 8, João Klauss found the back of the net to score his sixth goal of the season

Klauss now has 10 goal contributions (six goals and four assists)

Aziel Jackson recorded his third assist of the season

Goal-Scoring Plays

STL - Sam Adeniran, 4th minute: Samuel Adeniran left footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom left corner.

STL - João Klauss (Aziel Jackson), 28th minute: João Klauss right footed shot from the right side of the box to the center of the goal.

LA - Riqui Puig (penalty), 53rd minute: Riqui Puig converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top left corner.

LA - Billy Sharp (Uri Rosell), 82nd minute: Billy Sharp right footed shot from very close range to the top right corner.

Next Game

CITY SC finishes up its three-match road trip in a showdown against Houston Dynamo at 7:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, September 16.

September 10, 2023 - Dignity Health Sports Park (Carson, California)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

St. Louis CITY SC 2 0 2

LA Galaxy 0 2 2

Scoring Summary

STL: Sam Adeniran, 4

STL: João Klauss (Aziel Jackson), 28

LA: Riqui Puig (penalty), 53

LA: Billy Sharp (Uri Rosell), 82

Misconduct Summary

STL: Joakim Nilsson (caution), 22

STL: Sam Adeniran (caution), 52

STL: Sam Adeniran (caution/ejection), 60

STL: Anthony Markanich (caution), 82

STL: Kyle Hiebert (caution), 85

Lineups

LAG: GK Jonathan Bond, D Julian Aude, D Maya Yoshida, D Chris Mavinga, D Mauricio Cuevas (Daniel Aguirre 90'+6'); M Riqui Puig ©, M Tyler Boyd (Preston Judd 88'), M Uri Rosell, M Edwin Cerrillo (Mark Delgado 46'); F Dejan Joveljic (Billy Sharp 68'), F Douglas Costa (Diego Fagundez 68')

Substitutes Not Used: D Tony Alfaro, M Jonathan Perez, GK Novak Micovic, M Michael Barrios

TOTAL SHOTS: 20; SHOTS ON GOAL: 8; FOULS: 11; OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: 1

STL: GK Roman Bürki ©; D Anthony Markanich, D Tim Parker, D Joakim Nilsson (Kyle Hiebert 78'), D Akil Watts; M Njabulo Blom, M Eduard Löwen (Josh Yaro 78'), M Jared Stroud (Indiana Vassilev 90'+3'), M Aziel Jackson (Nökkvi Thórisson 79'); F João Klauss (Niko Gioacchini 71'), F Sam Adeniran

Substitutes Not Used: GK Ben Lundt, M Célio Pompeu, M Tomáš Ostrák, D Jake Nerwinski

TOTAL SHOTS: 5; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; FOULS: 10; OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 6

Referee: Filip Dujic

Assistant Referees: Ian McKay, Justin Howard

Fourth Official: Brandon Stevis

VAR: Kevin Stott

AVAR: Fabio Tovar

Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park

Weather: Sunny, 82 degrees

ST. LOUIS CITY SC POSTGAME QUOTES

Audio: Recordings

Bradley Carnell

Opening statement...

Yeah, I think you can see our intention was very early on in the game, playing against a really good, in-form team. I think you can see a good, dominant display from our side. We went 2-0 up and unfortunately Sam gets his second yellow card and that kind of derails us from our concept a little bit. But yeah, credit to the boys. We kept fighting. We were challenged a lot today and we were going to be challenged anyways in a normal regulation game - but now with a man down for more over 30 minutes plus the nine minutes of stoppage time, we were battled in big ways so proud of the boys for that. A little bit disappointed of course that we leave only with one point. I thought we could have seen out that game and found a way to get it over the line. Small details make big differences and that's what I'll leave here with but at least we take home a point.

On what he saw at the beginning of the second half with Delgado's change...

Yeah, he kind of just hung out in the half spaces. So, you know, we just had to find new orientation points, a new reference point, and I thought, for the most part, we got hold of it and a grip on the game again. We spoke about being compact during the game and I thought for the most part that the boys stuck to the game plan really, really well. And of course, they have quality - they're the best passing team in the league and one of the most informed teams in the west at the moment with us so it took us a while to get hold of that but I thought once we got going again, I thought it was fine. We have a chance early on in the first half to go 3-0 up but unfortunately Sam was offsides. But again, these are games here to be won and points to be taken. But at least we leave here with a point.

On the process of integrating Klauss back into the team...

I've seen it over the last couple of days in training and we adjusted Klauss' role slightly today - we had a little bit of a relationship between Sam and Klauss, with Klauss floating between the lines a little bit more just like [Niko] Gioacchini would do in the beginning of the season. I thought we were getting back to who we were in the attack, playing with fluidity, but it was great to see Klauss back. I really enjoyed what I saw. It's not just his on the ball play, but I think it's also his against the ball work. He forces numerous turnovers. He knows where to jump; he knows when to come back in the game. He knows when to organize the front group; when they should press and when they should not. I thought he played with a very mature head on his shoulders and we're glad to have him back.

Klauss

On playing in a different attacking role...

I mean, really, really good. Coaches asked me to come a little bit forward, to find the game and let Sam run in behind. And I think Sam is really strong on that. So, I feel fine, you know, to come and participate more i the creation of the game and let Sam run in behind, so I think we're working really well. I think Sam played an amazing game as well. So yeah, I'm happy with the performance in the position that I played.

On how Roman performed today...

I mean, I don't have to talk about Roman. His performance talked for him, and I mean, he's an amazing keeper. I can say he's one of the best keepers in the world. So, we know what Roman can do. He has been doing it for the whole season. That's not new for us.

On how it felt to score...

Yeah, sure. I told Lutz before the game, 'I have kilos in my head, in my back.' And yeah, it's just like, for a striker, after these four months out, it was really important for my confidence. You guys know, coming back from injury, my confidence was not the best. And I mean, with this goal today and my performance as well, it is of course giving me confidence for the next games.

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 11, 2023


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