St. Louis City SC vs. D.C. United: Preview, time and how to watch
Tonight D.C. United travel to Missouri for their clash at CITYPARK against St. Louis City SC.
While this is only the host team’s second MLS season, their home ground is already one of the most revered in the league. Every single home match of their inaugural MLS campaign sold out, and their fans sang in full voice each time.
The teams go into the match on a nearly identical point tally and similar runs of form, sharing the same record until the most recent matchday, where each side took on some of the league’s big-name teams. St. Louis have earned six points from their first four matches, remaining unbeaten with one win and three draws after their 3-3 tie against the LA Galaxy last weekend. United’s unbeaten start to the season ended in their recent 3-1 loss to a Luis Suarez-fueled Inter Miami, putting them on five points from four with a win, two draws, and a loss.
The match sees players from each side face their former team, several of whom were part of a recent swap deal from this past off-season. Long-serving D.C. midfielder Chris Durkin departed for St. Louis in a swap deal that brought in Jared Stroud and Lucas Bartlett. Stroud and Bartlett have instantly become integral parts of the new-look United side, respectively bringing dynamism and security to the starting eleven.
Key Player: Lucas Bartlett
The former St. Louis centerback will be looking to build on his great early-season form by continuing to add stability to the D.C. backline. His understanding of his former teammates and their seemingly fluid attack at times this season will be imperative in stopping them.
Watch out for: Celio Pompeu and Roman Bürki
While Pompeu hasn’t had an emphatic return in his MLS career thus far, the Brazilian wide midfielder has started this season as arguably the brightest spark in St. Louis’ attack. Cutting in from the left onto his right foot, he’s registered two important goals and an assist so far this year. He’ll be looking to exploit Aaron Herrera’s absence.
Bürki’s amazing performance against the LA Galaxy was the sole reason that the team was able to bring a point back home. The former Dortmund man again showed why he is one of the best keepers in the league and will hope to build on that performance against D.C.
D.C. United Availability:
Out: Steven Birnbaum (knee), Tyler Miller (shoulder), Garrison Tubbs (thigh), Pedro Santos (suspension), Matai Akinmboni (international duty), Kristian Fletcher (international duty), Aaron Herrera (international duty), Matti Peltola (international duty)
Questionable: Russell Canouse (ankle)
St. Louis City SC Availability:
Out: Eduard Löwen (hamstring), Tim Parker (back)
Location: CITYPARK, St. Louis, MO
Kickoff Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Referee: Amin Hadzic
Available streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
We had our company’s conference in St. Louis in 2022, at the Union Station Hotel (which was very nice). It was caddy-corner from the new soccer stadium, which was still under construction at the time. I’d love to go back, stay at the hotel, and catch a game there.
Our bench is Crockford, Zamudio, Murrell, Jeahze, Rodriguez, and Sargis. And that’s it.
Woof.
We’ll likely see Murrell and Rodriguez for whoever is really struggling, Jeahze maybe. Sargis in an emergency.
I do think that most of the lineup will go the distance, and thank goodness Benteke and TKD can go
I’m not sure if Lesesne has used his full complement of allotted subs yet this season. Maybe once. If he does it today, that means he’s making a goalie change.
St Louis have got a lot more subs, though
Man we desperately need depth. We’ve got a short bench this game and 2 of the bodies are GKs! Figure that Jeahze may be out of desperation and Sargis was just recalled from what was originally labeled a “season-long loan” and that means you have Murrell and Rodriguez as the only two bench players that Lesesne has shown confidence in playing (and he’s shown confidence in playing a lot of guys). This really ties his hands. If we leave here with a point, then that’s a real statement about this team and coach.
Interesting
Jeahze finally makes the squad. The whole thing strikes me as quite curious, and I’d be interested in details when I imagine he eventually leaves.
Old Glory DC fell 27-11 to San Diego Legion this afternoon at the Maryland Soccerplex. Very windy game 80% or less success by both teams on lineouts. Old Glory a lot of scrum penalties, handling errors, and a yellow card. OGDC had 11 handling errors while San Diego had 6. The wind had a major effect on the game today.
Columbus having a rough night. Had to make 2 injury subs and then one of the subs just got a straight red that should not have been a red card. That’s a super harsh red.
Columbus now only has a single sub window left and we’re less than 30 minutes into the match.
Durkin starting for St Louis.
I’d be more anxious if he was coming in off the bench, but he’ll be going for revenge, regardless
He’s been decent in the two partial games I’ve watched of theirs. Not really surprising, he’s got an excellent motor and good enough reading of the game/ball control. But he was on too high of a salary given the amount of needs/low cap space DC had so it was definitely the right call to trade him.
Especially since we got two starters out of it, as well as cash.
Who is ready for a game of pressing from both season. Murder ball here we go.
It looks like early, there will be space to counter into, and that’s likely our best bet to win. So be it.
Five minutes in, helluva game
Benteke almost with a spectacular own goal. Sometimes you don’t want forwards in that situation, instincts are opposite day
Bad touches from Pirani and Bartlett lead to nearly the most direct goal I’ve ever seen.
Woof, a Bono slip leads nowhere. Yikes
Big defensive track back by Dajome.
Benteke: Not really a defender.
Shit. Benteke marking Yaro like a ghost off a corner.
1-0 STL
Welcome back, Ted!
And we’re back!!!
TKD puts back in the save from a great Benteke header off an impressive Stroud cross.
1-1, let’s go!!!
Between Stroud and Herrera, that right wing can swing in some beautiful crosses.
Herrera has had more consistency there, but I’m welcoming that from Stroud if he wants to do that
Anyone else think that’s not even a foul by Jackson? We really have no sub for him, so hope he keeps his head.
Referring to the yellow
He took out both of Durkin’s legs. Yellow.
He reached around and got the ball, you’re allowed to take out someone’s legs in a slide tackle in a normal tackle. But we rarely agree on anything, if you address me
Bartlett made a bad play earlier, but generally has underrated mobility and good feet for a CB.
Had no clue who he was when DC traded for him and have been more than pleasantly surprised with what I’ve seen so far. Definitely seems to be an MLS-quality CB.
Same boat.
Our passing accuracy stat is likely very bad, but I don’t mind it as much in this one. Seems like we’re hoofing it when our shape is bad, and trying to take risks at OK times. Some more composure eventually, but for now, let’s ride through the storm
Highly unorthodox play by Bono, but it works
Stroud does it again!!! Benteke!!!
2-1!!!
Jared Stroud is doing a great Aaron Herrera impression. And it’s a shame that they seem to have gotten rid of secondary assists this season. Klich deserves one for that pass.
“Benches built by Home Depot.”
Not sure Home Depot wants to be associated with our bench tonight.
🥁
Um, this ref is wildly inconsistent on what constitutes a yellow card tackle
yes yes he is and its frustrating to both teams.
Just trying to think who Ku-DiPietro has scored against. Roman Burki. Andre Blake. Sean Johnson. Joe Willis, I think. Some pretty significant goalkeepers!
I mean, Burki made a spectacular save, but wasn’t even in the picture then when Teddy scored.
Yes… let’s focus on that, I guess?
Really impressed by Aziel Jackson for St Louis. Young and impactful, great feet and elusive in the press. If we get a chance at him in a trade, would be good to think it through
I’m pretty sure he’s highly valued in St. Louis, and I think maybe there were some European teams sniffing around. We can absolutely try for it, but I just think it might be a long shot.
Felt that way when Lewis Morgan played for Miami, and thought it would be hard to pry him loose, but he went to NJ in a trade
Seems like we are playing a 3-5-2 with no natural DMs, and that’s sorta impressive. 2-1 to the good guys at half
We’re missing a ton of guys, but it also helps that they’re without Lowen and Parker. I think we could probably get another goal here.
Have to say I really love STL’s stadium. It just looks gorgeous and fun to be in.
It does seem nice
Wow, NJ dunked on Miami this week
Dajome isn’t the worst dish on the menu, but you’d never buy it knowing the cost
McVey is luckily up again, really nasty stamp. This ref is weird
I’ve been harsh on Stroud through the first 4 weeks, and have been forced to eat my words the last 2 weeks, but what was that?
It DC United don’t hang on for the win, they’re really going to rue not getting a goal there. Easy pickings.
One thing that I’ve seen consistently is that it’s a bad thing if Christian Benteke is dribbling any distance. He was never great at it, but he’s downright clumsy now.
This ref is straying into “health liability factor” territory
Stroud has tremendous work ethic, I wonder about his stamina and durability to do this over the season.
Well, VAR check to give STL a PK, probably.
Yep,
How are they reviewing this so much later?!?!
Yuck. PK awarded. Maybe we can hope to get a point still?
That PK run up used to be illegal. Ah well.
I looked. The rule is feints are legal during the run-up. Once you get to the ball you have to kick it.
It used to be illegal to stop and redo, and at best, that’s borderline
As Matt Turner once said, “it’s a dog fight out there.” And this ref is basically a sprinkler in the yard.
Frustrating game, unless we manage to pull one back , but I worry about injuries at this point.
They just flashed a distance covered graphic. Top 3 were all DC academy guys: Durkin, Ku-DiPietro, and Hopkins.
Hope this is just Bono milking some clock. We need to be as strong of a lineup as possible right now
10 minutes of stoppage. When they asked the ref, I bet he confused it for a self evaluation ask.
This is one heated game, the sort of games that rivalries get built on. Of course, it wouldn’t make rivalry week- according to Garber, we don’t have those
Humongous kick save by Bono
Helluva save by Bono. There’s one or two of those in every game. Thank goodness he didn’t go off
Pirani limping pretty bad on his way out for Rodriguez. I’d prefer he found a way to justify his inclusion and salary this season and next, but maybe it’s better for a bit for us to figure out what we look like without him, especially if Peltola is available and Canouse is back
Anddddd that attempt to play TKD till the end did not pay off.
Jeahze sighting. Time to play our favorite and time honored game, “Guess That Shape!”
The ref let this game devolve pretty heavily, but that was something.
Hope TKD can bounce back. I honestly don’t know if I’m wishing Pirani back in the lineup immediately, but hope he can get back, as well
Will also say, in most seasons lately, Canouse out, hope’s out. We did this without him available, and with Peltola in Europe. Lesesne is a madman getting us to be competitive.
Remember when we were signing Brazilians like Luciano Emilio and Fred?
I’ve been wrong about young prospects before in terms of not seeing what the scouts did, but I really don’t see it from him.
Given that we were playing on the road in St. Louis, how short the bench was, I’m very happy with the result. Stroud continues to impress. Teddy KDP has got to find a way to stay on the pitch–he and Benteke (and well, Stroud) seem to be our only finishers. Glad that Hopkins is playing more of an all-around game. Bono again with a couple of great saves. Given a missing Canouse and Peltola, Klich’s role in this match as a D-mid, organizer, and leader was just invaluable. His initial assist was great but he did so much good work off the ball.
💯
St. Louis fans are real salty about the result.
Their team was a penalty-conceded-by-a-29-year-old-USL-player-making-his-first-MLS-start away from not getting any points, so… could be worse.
Meh. Just another expansion team that comes in the league, has one good season, then thinks their special team plays “better” soccer or whatever.
They were lucky to get that draw as I’ve never seen an attacker get a foul called after he had already played through and got a shot on frame. It’s usually an either or.
St. Louis was not good at creating chances from the run of play. They gave up way too much space down the flank with their generic and predictable press. The only reason why DC didn’t get a third was a mixture of luck and tired legs. They just ran out of gas to break the press down the flanks.
The St. Louis Reddit fans are delusional. But then again, isn’t that the point of talking sports on Reddit?
Some (online) fan bases seem worse than others. Watching any DCU commenter getting absolutely blasted with downvotes for politely disagreeing with their assessment of our play was kind of funny but kind of sad.