St. Louis City triumphed over Nashville SC with a solid 3-1 victory on Saturday, showcasing a powerful performance in the MLS Week 23 clash. Under the direction of David Critchley, the home team established early control of the match. Jaziel Orozco opened the scoring with a spectacular goal in the 22nd minute, followed by João Klauss extending the lead with a precise shot at the 38-minute mark of the first half. The advantage was further solidified when Jeong Sangbin scored the third goal just five minutes into the second half. Nashville’s consolation goal came from Hany Mukhtar, who successfully converted a penalty in the 84th minute of play.
Jaziel Orozco electrified the stadium with his finish in the 22nd minute. After receiving an assist from Devin Padelford, he skillfully placed the ball into the lower left corner of the net, leaving the goalkeeper helpless.
Both teams had opportunities to alter the outcome, but notable efforts from Simon Becher and Gastón Brugman struck the woodwork, preserving St. Louis’s advantage.
Orozco was undoubtedly the standout player, contributing significantly to the match with his goal. Goalkeeper Roman Bürki also made his mark, thwarting an impressive six shots from the opposition.
Critchley’s tactical approach deployed a 4-4-2 formation, with Bürki in goal, Orozco, Fallou Fall, Timo Baumgartl, and Devin Padelford forming the defensive line. The midfield comprised Tomás Ostrák, Alfredo Morales, Marcel Hartel, and Eduard Löwen, while João Klauss and Jeong Sangbin led the attack.
Nashville SC, managed by B. J. Callaghan, opted for a similar 4-4-2 setup, featuring Joseph Willis in goal; Andy Nájar, Jack Maher, Jeisson Palacios, and Wyatt Meyer in defense; Gastón Brugman, Patrick Yazbek, Edvard Tagseth, and Hany Mukhtar in midfield; alongside forwards Sam Surridge and Jonathan Pérez.
The referee for the match at Energizer Park was Lorenzo Hernandez.
Up next, St. Louis will face Chicago Fire in their next outing, while Nashville SC is set to visit New York City FC.
Substitutions for St. Louis City
61’ 2T – João Klauss for Simon Becher
69’ 2T – Tomás Ostrák for Mykhi Joyner and Jeong Sangbin for Célio Pompeu
85’ 2T – Alfredo Morales for Akil Watts and Marcel Hartel for Jake Girdwood-Reich
Yellow Cards for St. Louis City:
51’ 2T Alfredo Morales (Unsporting behavior) and 48’ 2T Mykhi Joyner (Unsporting behavior)
Substitutions for Nashville SC
60’ 2T – Edvard Tagseth for Alex Muyl and Jonathan Pérez for Ahmed Qasem
74’ 2T – Wyatt Meyer for Josh Bauer
89’ 2T – Patrick Yazbek for Jacob Shaffelburg
Yellow Card for Nashville SC:
51’ 2T Alex Muyl (Unsporting behavior)