In the 20th week of the season, St. Louis City showcased their fighting spirit as they turned the match around to defeat the Portland Timbers 2-1. It was the Timbers who initially took the lead in the 18th minute of the first half, when David da Costa scored a stunning goal following an assist from Santiago Moreno. His powerful strike hit the left post before finding the back of the net, giving Portland an early advantage.
However, St. Louis City responded valiantly after the break. Forward Marcel Hartel was the star of the show, netting two goals in quick succession at the 53rd and 66th minutes, securing a vital victory for his team.
Hartel’s remarkable performance earned him the title of Man of the Match, as he registered two goals and contributed significantly with his attacking presence. In addition, David da Costa was instrumental for the Timbers, not just for his goal, but for his overall impact, making three attempts on goal throughout the match.
St. Louis City’s coach, David Critchley, set up his team in a 4-3-3 formation with Roman Bürki guarding the goal; Jaziel Orozco, Josh Yaro, Jake Girdwood-Reich, and Tomas Totland in defense; Tomás Ostrák, Cedric Teuchert, and Conrad Wallem in midfield; while Hartel, João Klauss, and Célio Pompeu led the attack.
On the other hand, Phil Neville’s Portland Timbers also lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, featuring Maxime Crépeau as the goalkeeper along with defenders Juan Mosquera, Dario Zuparic, Finn Surman, and Kamal Miller. The midfield trio consisted of David Ayala, Joao Ortiz, and David da Costa, while Santiago Moreno, Kevin Kelsy, and Jimer Fory were tasked with spearheading the attack.
The match, held at Energizer Park, was officiated by referee Ricardo Montero Araya.
Looking ahead, St. Louis City is set to visit FC Dallas in their next fixture, while the Timbers will travel to face off against Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Substitutions for St. Louis City
- 65’ 2H – Tomás Ostrák off for Eduard Löwen
- 66’ 2H – Célio Pompeu off for Simon Becher
- 81’ 2H – Cedric Teuchert off for Akil Watts
- 94’ 2H – Jaziel Orozco off for Kyle Hiebert
Yellow Cards for St. Louis City
- 47’ 2H – João Klauss (Holding opponent to prevent a counterattack)
- 47’ 2H – Jaziel Orozco (Holding opponent to prevent a counterattack)
Substitutions for Portland Timbers
- 45’ 2H – Jimer Fory off for Ian Smith
- 64’ 2H – Santiago Moreno off for Omir Fernández, Joao Ortiz off for Diego Chará
- 75’ 2H – David Ayala off for Cristhian Paredes, Dario Zuparic off for Gage Guerra
Yellow Cards for Portland Timbers
- 58’ 2H – Joao Ortiz (Holding opponent to prevent a counterattack)
- 64’ 2H – Kevin Kelsy (Holding opponent to prevent a counterattack)
- 77’ 2H – Juan Mosquera (Holding opponent to prevent a counterattack)
- 78’ 2H – Kamal Miller (Holding opponent to prevent a counterattack)