St. Louis City interim head coach John Hackworth is confident his side can make a late push for the playoffs after going unbeaten since their return from the Leagues Cup.
St. Louis are building momentum at the right time, but remain six points adrift of this weekend’s opponents, Minnesota United, who sit on the right side of the playoff line.
Hackworth’s side were forced to share the spoils in their last MLS encounter against New England Revolution, but the 54-year-old preached positivity for the business end of the campaign.
“I personally believe that we're not out of time yet, you know, we still have control,” Hackworth said.
“We have to fix this little moment where we take our foot off the gas, where we don't play with the same initiative that we do to start the game. That's something we can fix. We have fixed it.
“We have gotten better. I'm going to say I'm blue in the face, but I believe in this group of guys. I still think we have a good chance.”
Minnesota, meanwhile, overcame the San Jose Earthquakes in their last match, keeping the gap between the teams below them to just a point with the luxury of a game in hand over most.
The Loons currently sit ninth in the Western Conference table and know a win is a must to keep their ambitions of remaining in that position alive.
Head coach Eric Ramsay acknowledged the enormity of the task awaiting his players but challenged his squad to deal with the raucous atmosphere inside CITYPARK.
“They have had a slight change in fortune over the last couple of games. They are fighting for their lives at the bottom in the same way that we are,” Ramsay said.
“They are a team I am sure that are looking at this game as being crucial for the remainder of their season and their fortunes.
“We have got to make sure we handle that situation well and that we understand the magnitude of the game for us and for them, because that will certainly play its part.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
St. Louis City – Marcel Hartel
Hartel has been involved in a goal in each of his first three MLS matches (one goal and three assists).
Since the start of 2023, four players have begun their MLS careers with goal contributions in their first three regular season matches, with three of them doing so for St. Louis (Hartel, Joao Klauss and Eduard Lowen).
Minnesota United – Robin Lod
Despite only playing the final half an hour in Finland’s Nations League defeat to England, Lod returns to the MLS with a record in his sights.
Lod has been involved in 54 regular season goals for Minnesota (28 goals and 26 assists), one away from equalling the club record of 55 held by Emanuel Reynoso (22 goals and 33 assists).
MATCH PREDICTION: ST. LOUIS CITY WIN
St. Louis City have not lost any of their last six matches against MLS teams in all competitions (W3 D3). This is their longest unbeaten run in the division during the club’s history.
But Minnesota have won two of their last three regular season matches (L1) after winning just two of their previous 14 (D4 L8). Minnesota’s triumph against San Jose last time out also ended a seven-match winless run away from home (D2 L5).
And it has often been the away side who have emerged victorious in this fixture. Both their MLS meetings last term ended with an away win, with Minnesota out to upset Opta’s data-led simulations at CITYPARK this time around.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
St. Louis City – 46.4%
Draw – 26.5%
Minnesota United – 27%
Chicago Fire v New York Red Bulls: Klopas seeking to overcome slow starts
Chicago Fire head coach Frank Klopas insisted his side must overcome their slow start against D.C. United in order to push for the playoffs ahead of facing the New York Red Bulls this weekend.
Klopas watched on as his side conceded twice in three minutes midway through the first half against D.C. as Christian Benteke and Gabriel Pirani’s struck to secure the triumph for the visitors.
The result leaves the Fire 14th in the Eastern Conference standings, with Klopas stressing the importance of energy from the first whistle to his players.
“We needed to come out with energy. If we did that, I felt that we were in the game,” Klopas said.
“We got that goal. And then, if you see the second half, the amount of possession, and it's a team that was sitting back, looking to counter.
“We get in good spots, and then our ability in the final 25 yards from goal, whether it's just making a play, the quality of the crosses coming in, connecting, we get in really good spots and we need to be better and sharper in the final third, in those areas.”
The Red Bulls, meanwhile, played out a 13th draw of the season on home soil against Kansas City last time out, with 16-year-old Julian Hall snatching a point in the final minute of normal time.
It marked just their second goal from their last three MLS fixtures since returning from the Leagues Cup, and they have since lost pace with the top three in the Eastern Conference but are still four points ahead of rivals New York City FC in fourth place.
Head coach Sandro Schwarz acknowledged his side's difficulties in the final third of late but insisted that his squad have addressed their lack of confidence at the top end of the pitch.
“I think it is also from the mental side,” Schwarz said. “When you did not have the best game last week, and then you concede the first goal, it is not easy for a young team.
“On this point, I am very happy we were able to get this point. This is what we can improve, and this is what we have done also to create more of these moments in the final third.
“We had big chances throughout the game, but from this point you need a goal to give you confidence to believe in your quality – this is what we have to do."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Chicago Fire – Andrew Gutman
Gutman scored Chicago’s only goal against D.C. from outside the box, the seventh Fire goal from outside the penalty area in 2024.
Chicago last scored more goals from outside the box in the 2012 season (13).
NYRB – Cory Burke
Burke has scored 28 career regular season MLS goals with eight of those coming against this weekend’s opponents.
The Jamaican has not scored more than three goals against any other MLS opponent but has scored at least once in every season he’s faced the Fire from 2018 to 2023.
MATCH PREDICTION: NYRB WIN
The Fire are unbeaten in four straight meetings with the Red Bulls (W1 D3), including a scoreless draw at Red Bull Arena in April. Chicago last went five straight unbeaten against New York in all competitions from August 2010 to June 2012 (W2 D3).
However, they have lost three straight home matches in all competitions for the third time since the start of last season. Chicago had lost three straight home matches in all competitions just twice in the club’s first 25 seasons and have never lost four in a row at home before.
While coming into the encounter as favourites, eight of the Red Bulls’ last 11 regular season matches have ended in draws (W2 L1), including all four on the road during that time. They are also winless in six straight regular season road games (D4 L2) since a win at D.C. United in May.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Chicago Fire – 27.3%
Draw – 24%
NYRB – 48.7%
FC Cincinnati v Columbus Crew: Nancy calls for change after goalkeeper fiasco
Wilfried Nancy has called for cohesion and understanding from MLS decision-makers after the Columbus Crew were forced to play with midfielder Sean Zawadzki in goal in their 4-0 defeat to the Seattle Sounders.
Abraham Romero saw red at the end of the first half, and with both Patrick Schulte and Nicholas Hagen away on international duty, Zawadzki found himself wearing the gloves.
Romero was the Crew’s only goalkeeper in the matchday squad as players from Columbus’ reserve side can only be called up four times before signing a professional contract.
Nancy asked MLS to allow an additional call-up for a backup goalkeeper but that request was rejected, leaving the Crew head coach furious at the full-time whistle.
“We are at 39 matches played,” Nancy said. “We were mandated to have three goalkeepers on the teamsheet. This is what we did. We had to use a call-up for a friendly game against Aston Villa.
“Why I'm not happy before the game and all the week it happened, I was not happy about that because there is a rule, as you know, we can use only four times, four call-ups [for] one player from the reserve team who has a contract.
“You know the issue that we had with the goalkeepers with Evan Bush. We tried to anticipate, adding a fourth goalkeeper, knowing that we could have a situation like this.
“When we asked before the game to have another call-up for our goalkeeper for the reserve team, they said no, knowing that this game [against] Seattle we were supposed to play in [May].”
Cincinnati, meanwhile, bounced back from their defeat to Inter Miami in style, comfortably dispatching CF Montreal 4-1 at the TQL Stadium last time out.
Pat Noonan’s side know the magnitude of their encounter this weekend, as a defeat would allow their opponents to leapfrog them in the Eastern Conference standings into second, with the Crew also having a game in hand.
While the pressure is seemingly on the hosts, Noonan is relishing the challenge of facing the Leagues Cup winners on home soil.
“Really pleased with the response from the last performance and just the overall play from our guys,” Noonan said.
“I thought on both sides of the ball they were outstanding – maybe a little bit fortunate on some of those goals – but I am very pleased with the outcome and how the guys stepped up.”
“We know the challenges that'll be ahead of us. The group can go win a game, it'll be a challenging match, but one that you have to be excited about.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Cincinnati – Luciano Acosta
Acosta has scored five times for FC Cincinnati against the Crew, tied for the most goals scored by a Cincinnati player against any opponent in MLS play.
The Argentine has also netted five goals against Toronto FC, with Brandon Vazquez also striking five times against Inter Miami.
Columbus Crew – Diego Rossi
With Columbus’ array of attacking options, Rossi has been the standout, registering 19 goals and eight assists in all competitions, netting six times in their Leagues Cup success.
But across his two spells in MLS with the Crew and Los Angeles FC, the Uruguayan has failed to score against five opponents, with Cincinnati being one of them.
MATCH PREDICTION: COLUMBUS CREW WIN
After starting the season winless in four on the road (D3, L1), Columbus have won seven of their last nine regular-season away games (L2). The seven away victories are the most the Crew have ever recorded in a single regular season.
However, they come into the encounter off the back of a 4-0 loss to the Sounders, their heaviest defeat since 2018. The Crew also have not lost consecutive matches in all competitions since a three-match losing streak last May.
Cincinnati also boast an impressive home record against this weekend’s opponents. They are unbeaten in five straight regular-season matches on home soil against the Crew (W2 D3) but did lose last season’s Eastern Conference Final at TQL Stadium.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Cincinnati – 29.4%
Draw – 24.7%
Columbus Crew – 45.9%
Atlanta United v Nashville SC: Miranchuk key to reaching playoffs, says Valentino
Atlanta United interim head coach Rob Valentino has backed Alexey Miranchuk to aid the Five Stripes’ push for the playoffs after his impressive showing against Charlotte FC.
Miranchuk, signed from Atalanta in July, showcased his individual qualities last time out, playing more passes into the final third (29) than any on the pitch at the Bank of America Stadium.
Atlanta currently sit 10th in the Eastern Conference table, a point behind D.C. United with a game in hand, with Valentino confident the Russian can propel his side into the playoff positions.
"It was fantastic, it was good to get him integrated into the team as quickly as possible," said Valentino. "He’s going to help us a lot down the stretch.
“His teammates getting used to him, him getting used to his teammates, he pushes himself to a whole different level.”
Their success against Charlotte was also their first win in five away games, something goalkeeper Brad Guzan emphasised the importance of for the remaining league fixtures.
“It was a good result, I’m sure, as Rob probably said, there are times when in the game we had to suffer, we had to defend, we had to do a lot of dirty work tonight and that’s part of going on the road and finding a way to get a result," Guzan said.
For Nashville, however, their woeful run of results continued, with their 3-0 defeat to Orlando City last time out their eighth consecutive loss in the MLS.
Their recent form saw BJ Callaghan replace Gary Smith as the Coyotes' new head coach in July, but those losses have resulted in Nashville dropping to the foot of the Eastern Conference table.
But a 2-0 win against their reserve team, Huntsville City FC, last week, featuring a number of upcoming young talent, handed Callaghan an insight into the future of the club.
“A lot of times we can get focused on our week-to-week, our Saturday to Saturday. And we know that the most important thing in the first team is those Saturday performances,” Callaghan said.
“But tonight is the night that you get to step back. And we talked about celebrating the club and showcasing that young talent and understanding that we have a week-to-week responsibility.
“But the club also has a long-term vision and a long-term responsibility to the city of Nashville and the city of Huntsville, two cities that we’ve invested heavily in.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Atlanta United – Saba Lobjanidze
Lobjanidze has recorded at least one assist in each of his last three regular season home appearances, including recording two against Columbus Crew in July.
Nine of Georgian’s 12 goal contributions this season have also come at home, including all six assists.
Nashville – Sam Surridge
With Nashville scoring just three goals in their last eight MLS fixtures, they will need top scorer Surridge fit and firing for their trip to Atlanta.
The Englishman has 11 goals from 25 appearances in all competitions this season but faces an opponent he is yet to win or find the net against this weekend.
MATCH PREDICTION: ATLANTA UNITED WIN
Atlanta won their first two meetings with Nashville in 2020, but since, the Coyotes have lost only on of their last nine matches with the Five Stripes in all competitions (W4 D4).
The hosts, however, have only won two of their last 10 regular season home matches (D3 L5) dating back to April. But they have gone four games unbeaten in four consecutive games on home soil since (W2 D2).
Nashville come into the encounter in a wretched run of form having lost a club record eight matches in a row, failing to score in their last four. The only longer losing streak in MLS since the start of the 2019 season was FC Cincinnati’s league-record 14 straight defeats from September 2021 to March 2022.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Atlanta United – 50.4%
Draw – 25.1%
Nashville – 24.5%
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