St. Louis City will look to continue their ascent up the Western Conference table when they host Toronto FC on Saturday night.
St. Louis (11-6-8, 41 points) has seemed all but invincible lately, no matter the competition. Now unbeaten in 17 matches, a U.S. Open Cup final appearance will mark the first feather in the club’s collective cap this season. It held the Colorado Rapids to one shot on goal in a 3-0 semifinal drubbing.
“There is a feeling of not being satisfied, wanting to push, wanting to keep fighting for one another. It’s the mindset this group has,” head coach Yoann Damet said after the Colorado match.
St. Louis City have been lethal on offense, with 15 goals in their last five matches in all competitions. Club-record signing Rafael Navarro has been in brilliant form since his arrival at the beginning of the month, nabbing braces in his last two league outings to bring his tally to 14 on the year. Wing-back Conrad Wallem, meanwhile, has registered six assists in his last seven matches.
Toronto (6-8-11, 29 points) enters the fixture on considerably shakier ground. After a shock victory over Eastern Conference leader Nashville SC, the Reds were dealt a substantial blow to their playoff hopes with a 3-0 defeat to Orlando City last Saturday. The loss, their first since July 25, saw the team plummet to 12th in the conference — three points behind FC Cincinnati in the final playoff spot.
Head coach Robin Fraser was the first to acknowledge the challenge awaiting the club this weekend.
“This is a team that I think you have to really be up for the fight from minute one, and it’ll be a tough game,” he said in a pre-match press conference.
The match will mark Toronto’s first trip to Energizer Park. St. Louis won the only previous meeting between the two teams in 2023.
Toronto captain Jonathan Osorio has reportedly resumed full training and could make his first appearance since July 31. Designated Player Djordje Mihailovic (hamstring) will likely miss his third straight game.
–Field Level Media
