Less than three months ago, St. Louis City were all but buried.
The club won just one of its first 10 games (1-6-3) and scored more than one goal just twice across that stretch.
Ahead of their match against visiting Real Salt Lake on Saturday night, the dreadful start is nothing more than a distant memory.
St. Louis (7-6-4, 25 points) has won four straight matches and is unbeaten since a May 3 loss, propelling the red-hot club into a Western Conference playoff position. Although Yoann Damet’s team looks vastly different compared to the start of the season, the first-year head coach believes the team’s attitude hasn’t changed.
“The mindset of the group is amazing, and I’ve said that since Day 1,” Damet said. “These guys are amazing, the way they are showing how relentless they are in being committed to one another, and being committed to their own growth has been second to none.”
Marcel Hartel’s five goals lead St. Louis, while Simon Becher has a team-high five assists.
Salt Lake (8-6-2, 26 points), meanwhile, is trending in the opposite direction. After a 2-1 road loss to the Portland Timbers last weekend, the club has dropped consecutive games for the first time since April.
In search of its first win since May 16, Salt Lake is anxious to get back on track.
“When we lose a game like this, there’s not too much time to feel sorry for ourselves,” defender Lukas Engel said following the Portland match. “We’ve got to bounce back. We’ve got to go out there and get a clean sheet. Then I’m pretty sure we’re going to win the game because we’re going to score goals. I am 100% sure of that.”
Salt Lake was outshot 25-7 by the Timbers.
Zavier Gozo and Sergi Solans spearhead Salt Lake’s offensive attack, each posting six goals.
–Field Level Media
