John Hackworth believes St. Louis Metropolis’s derby with Sporting Kansas Metropolis is vital to MLS as they resume their rivalry on Saturday.
The final two conferences between the edges have completed degree, with each ending in dramatic trend.
St. Louis Metropolis come into the most recent version having misplaced simply one in every of their final six outings, although that was their final house match.
They sit thirteenth within the Japanese Convention, degree on factors with Sporting above them, and Hackworth is now eager to construct on the momentum from their win over San Jose Earthquakes final Saturday.
“We talked about attempting to complete these final 5 video games with a variety of momentum, exhibiting our followers what we have been able to,” Hackworth mentioned.
“We knew we needed to go on the street in one in every of these three video games and achieve success, and now we simply must construct on that.
“This rivalry is admittedly essential to our league. It’s two groups who’re going to go after it and play by their rules, leaving all of it on the market to see what occurs – two dramatic attracts set us up for this contest.”
Prep work #AllForCITY x @BJC_HealthCare pic.twitter.com/lViJaTEety
— St Louis CITY SC (@stlCITYsc) September 26, 2024
In the meantime, Kansas Metropolis have gained simply one in every of their final 5 matches in all competitions and suffered a 3-1 defeat to Los Angeles FC within the US Open Cup ultimate on Wednesday.
Head coach Peter Vermes was left disillusioned by the consequence however believes there are positives to take from the efficiency.
“I give the fellows a variety of credit score. I’m very happy with the trouble that the fellows put into that sport,” Vermes mentioned.
“It by no means feels good to lose. However I additionally suppose that the group did themselves proud in the way in which they carried out. We had good responses in that sport, however in the long run, we fell brief.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
St. Louis Metropolis – Cedric Teuchert
Cedric Teuchert scored within the fourth minute in every of St. Louis Metropolis’s final two matches.
Teuchert is one in every of six gamers to attain multiple aim within the opening 4 minutes of matches this season and the second to take action in consecutive matches (Mikael Uhre).
Cedric Teuchert has made a right away impression with @stlCITYsc since becoming a member of the squad this summer season.
He’ll look to attain extra targets in his first rivalry match towards Sporting KC this weekend. Watch with #MLSSeasonPass: pic.twitter.com/2NcOYP7yHk
— Main League Soccer (@MLS) September 27, 2024
Sporting Kansas Metropolis – Tim Melia
Each targets Sporting Kansas Metropolis conceded of their loss to Minnesota United on Saturday got here within the ultimate half-hour.
Sporting have allowed 31 targets within the ultimate half-hour of matches this season, solely San Jose (33) has allowed extra, and Tim Melia can be hoping his focus ranges can enhance forward of Saturday’s match.
MATCH PREDICTION: ST. LOUIS CITY WIN
St. Louis Metropolis have misplaced solely two of their final 10 matches in all competitions (W4 D4), together with choosing up a 2-1 win at San Jose on Saturday. St. Louis haven’t gained two straight matches in all competitions since wins over Minnesota United and Sporting Kansas Metropolis final September.
Sporting have misplaced 10 of their final 12 regular-season away matches, together with a 2-0 loss in Seattle of their final league street match. Solely league-worst San Jose (11) have misplaced extra away matches this season than Sporting (10).
Nonetheless, Kansas Metropolis are unbeaten in 4 straight conferences with St. Louis (W2 D2) after St. Louis gained two of the primary three encounters. This would be the eighth assembly between St. Louis and Kansas Metropolis, totaling 10.4 % (8/77) of all of St. Louis’ video games in all competitions up up to now.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
St. Louis Metropolis – 43.4%
Draw – 26.7%
Sporting Kansas Metropolis – 29.9%
