2025

St. Louis CITY

Season

Season Summary

February (0-0-1)

Feb 22 v. Colorado – Tie 0-0
Olof Mellberg’s debut. CITY dominated a Colorado side between Champions Cup matches, but the only drama came when Becher’s goal (20′)—from Löwen’s free kick hitting the post and Kessler’s pass—was disallowed for offside.

March (2-2-1)

Mar 1 @ San Diego – Tie 0-0
San Diego’s home MLS debut. CITY struggled throughout. Kyle Hiebert lost his contact lens (87′).

Mar 9 @ LA Galaxy – Win 3-0
CITY secured their first win and goal of 2025 against the defending MLS Champions. After an even first half, Teuchert cleaned up a spilled corner kick (44′), then fed Hartel for the second (49′). Becher added a third (84′). NOTABLES: Olof Mellberg’s first win as head coach.

INJURY: Prior to the game against Seattle, it was announced that Roman Bürki suffered a fractured hand in practice the day before and would miss the foreseeable future.

Mar 15 v. Seattle – Win 1-0
Löwen’s free kick (15′) secured CITY’s first-ever win against Seattle. Vargas appealed for a late PK (90’+3), but the ball struck his hand before his dive. NOTABLES: Lundt’s first clean sheet; shutout streak reached 4 games. Due to illness, Freddy Juarez replaced Brian Schmetzer on the sidelines for Seattle.

Mar 22 @ Philadelphia – Loss 0-1
In the first meeting between clubs—and CITY’s first match against former coach Bradley Carnell—Philadelphia scored off a corner (8′). Strong winds hampered CITY’s clearing abilities in the first half, and Löwen’s second yellow (66′) ended their comeback hopes. NOTABLES: Club-record shutout streak ended at 368 minutes.

Mar 29 vs Austin – Loss 0-1
Depleted by missing players (Bürki, Löwen, Teuchert), CITY fell to Austin’s cross into the box (33′).

April (0-2-2)

Apr 5 @ Kansas – Loss 0-2
Kansas, winless and having just fired longtime coach Peter Vermes, found their first win of the season. Wallem hit the post (16′), but Joveljic’s brace (71′, 88′) sealed it for the hosts.

Apr 13 v. Columbus – Loss 1-2
Klauss headed in his own rebound (7′), but Columbus equalized before halftime (45’+2) and took the lead after (55′). Klauss had an equalizer disallowed for offside (68′).

Apr 19 v. Vancouver – Tie 0-0
Hartel’s goal (25′) was disallowed as Wallem was deemed offside in the buildup, but CITY ended their 4-game losing streak with a point.

TRANSACTION: On April 23rd, CITY picked up FW Xande Silva from Atlanta United for $100,000 in GAM.

Apr 27 @ LAFC – Tie 2-2
Teuchert gave CITY the lead (52′), but Bouanga equalized (70′). Lundt saved Bouanga’s PK (73′), then Morales was sent off (83′). Hartel’s free kick caromed around and eventually off Ordaz for an own goal (89′), but Bouanga beat Yaro again and struck one through three defenders for the equalizer (90’+5).

May (2-5-1)

May 3 @ Seattle – Loss 1-4
Hartel’s PK (29′) gave CITY the lead, but Seattle equalized from the spot three minutes later (32′). Seattle pulled away in the second half with goals in the 61st, 81st, and 90’+1. NOTABLES: Winless streak reaches 7.

May 7 v. Union Omaha (USOC Rd. of 32) – Win 2-0
A 2023 rematch to begin Open Cup play. After a scoreless first half, Joey Zalinsky’s long-range strike in his first appearance (68′) gave CITY the lead. Klauss added insurance (87′). INJURIES: Morales, groin (44′).

May 10 v. San Diego – Loss 1-2
San Diego’s first visit to St. Louis. After a quiet first half, San Diego scored twice late (79′, 87′). Hiebert’s stoppage-time goal (90’+1) came too late.

May 14 v. Kansas – Tie 2-2
CITY dominated the first half with Pompeu’s golazo from the top of the box (15′) and Ostrák’s deflected strike off Teuchert (44′). Despite numerous second-half chances, Kansas clawed back with two goals (70′, 77′). NOTABLES: Bürki returned after missing 10 games; Azrudin Valentić served as acting coach for Mellberg’s one-game suspension (yellow card accumulation).

May 17 @ Minnesota – Loss 0-3
Game was even until Minnesota’s back-heel goal (33′) and CITY’s attack flattened. Minnesota added two more (62′, 78′) in the first of back-to-back games in St. Paul.

May 21 @ Minnesota (USOC Rd. of 16) – Loss 2-3
Minnesota led early (10′), but Hartel’s header (55′) and Klauss’s header (65′) put CITY up 2-1. Former CITY player Anthony Markanich broke hearts with two late goals (85′, 88′), eliminating CITY from Open Cup.

May 24 @ Colorado – Loss 0-1
In a rain-soaked match, CITY missed golden chances including a Teuchert breakaway. Colorado’s broken-play dribbler (41′) surprised Bürki for the winner. NOTABLES: Mellberg’s final game as head coach.

On May 27th Olof Mellberg is dismissed. Hired in November 2024, his tenure began promisingly (2-0-2, four straight shutouts) but collapsed amid injuries and lack of depth. He finished 3-9-4 overall (2-8-4 in MLS, 0.67 ppg, .188 win %), including a disastrous 1-9-2 skid toward his ouster—the lone win against USL1’s Union Omaha in Open Cup. Assistant Coach Azrudin Valentić also left the club. He served as acting coach May 14 against Kansas during Mellberg’s one-game suspension (yellow card accumulation).

May 31 v. San Jose – Win 2-1
David Critchley’s debut. Klauss caught the keeper off his line just before halftime (45’+2). Martinez equalized (82′), but Becher drew a PK that Löwen converted (90’+2). Wallem sent off for two yellows (90’+3, 90’+6). NOTABLES: Critchley’s first win.

June (0-3-1)

TRANSACTION: On June 3rd, Nökkvi Thórisson’s loan option was purchased by Sparta Rotterdam. He was permanently transferred, ending his time with St. Louis CITY.

Jun 8 @ Portland – Loss 1-2
CITY pressured early, with Klauss and Watts both denied point-blank before Hartel pushed it wide (27′). Watts opened scoring, cleaning up a cross (50′), but Portland equalized quickly (55′) and won it off a corner (90’+1).

Jun 14 v. LA Galaxy – Tie 3-3
Klauss nutmegged the keeper on a give-and-go (35′), but LA equalized moments later (41′). Klauss rocketed a breakaway over the keeper’s shoulder (47′), only for LA to respond again (51′) and take the lead when Reid slipped on a back pass, allowing Pec to walk around Bürki (87′). But Klauss lasered home his hat trick in the top corner (90’+5) to salvage the draw. NOTABLES: Klauss’s first hat trick; franchise’s first hat trick.

Jun 25 v. Orlando – Loss 2-4
A midweek matchup that saw Orlando strike quickly with two goals in the first ten minutes (7′, 9′), then capitalized on a sloppy turnover (22′). Becher (40′) and Klauss (45’+3) clawed the game back before halftime, but Orlando added a fourth late (82′) to secure the win.

Jun 28 @ Houston – Loss 0-1
A pretty boring game of soccer saw a kneecap goal by Houston (66’) as the difference maker. NOTABLES: Ben Lundt received a yellow card on the bench for time wasting (43’). INJURIES: Alfredo Morales, clavicle (14′).

TRANSACTION: On June 30th, Jannes Horn’s loan expired and he was returned to his parent club.

July (1-3-0)

Jul 5 @ Salt Lake – Loss 2-3
Another bad start as RSL scored off a corner (6′) and added to the score before halftime (43′). Klauss (51′) and Yaro (80′) pulled CITY back, but Yaro’s own goal (64′) was the difference in the loss.

Jul 13 v. Portland – Win 2-1
Portland led early (19′), but Hartel roofed the equalizer over the keeper (54′) and added the winner (67′) for his brace.

TRANSACTION: On July 15th, CITY signed DF Fallou Fall from Fredrikstad for a $3.5M transfer fee.

Jul 19 @ Dallas – Loss 0-3
Dallas dominated throughout. Kaick opened scoring (24′), and Dallas added two more (79′, 88′ PK).

TRANSACTIONS: On July 21, CITY traded $1.6M to Minnesota United for Jeong Sang-Bin. On July 22nd, CITY brought in Devin Padelford on loan from Minnesota United, the terms of which are through the end of the 2025 season. On July 24th Njabulo Blom left on a free transfer to Vietnamese club Thep Xanh Nam Dinh. He had been returned earlier in the month from his loan spell with Kaizer Chiefs.

Jul 26 v. Minnesota – Loss 1-2
A penalty-filled match. Löwen converted from the spot (36′), but Minnesota answered with two late PKs (74′, 90′). Durkin sent off for DOGSO (72′).

August (1-3-0)

TRANSACTION: On August 5th, CITY announced a contract buyout of Joakim Nilsson’s contract, releasing him from the club.

Aug 9 v. Nashville – Win 3-1
Orozco collected a corner at the top of the box, dribbled to the end line, and beat Willis near-post (23′). Klauss also beat Willis near-post (39′), and Jeong added a third (66′). Nashville’s PK (81′) was saved by Bürki, but he was ruled to have left his line early. Mukhtar converted the retake (85′). Clean Sheet denied.

Aug 16 @ Chicago – Loss 2-3
Weather delayed kickoff. Cuypers opened scoring (16′), but Ostrák equalized, cleaning up a broken cross (47′). Hartel roofed a back-post cross over the keeper (59′) to give CITY the lead, but Chicago equalized (67′) and won it late (87′).

TRANSACTION: On August 19th, CITY transferred Xande Silva to Hapoel Tel Aviv for an undisclosed fee.

Aug 23 @ Vancouver – Loss 2-3
The House of Horrors continues. Löwen’s bullet header off Wallem’s cross (13′) gave CITY the lead, but Vancouver equalized on a soft PK (White, 45’+4). Jeong’s amazing effort set up Klauss, who evaded two defenders to restore the lead (73′). Vancouver tied it (79′), then won on another extremely generous PK (Müller, 90’+14).

DEPARTURE: After the loss to Vancouver, CITY announced August 25th that they had parted ways with original Sporting Director Lutz Pfannenstiel. His time in St. Louis was a roller coaster ride, with ups like being the first expansion team to win a conference, bringing in guys like Roman Bürki, João Klauss, Edu Löwen and Marcel Hartel and building a team and academy from scratch; while his downs included 2-straight seasons missing the playoffs, the hiring and firing of Olof Mellberg, the mishandling of Bradley Carnell and taking too many chances on oft-injured players. Diego Gigliani and John Hackworth will assume Lutz’s responsibilities for the remainder of the season while the team searches for a new Sporting Director.

Aug 30 v. Houston – Loss 2-3
Houston led via a set-piece header (20′), Kessler’s own goal (50′), and a bad-back-pass interception (72′). Löwen (86′) and Mykhi Joyner (89′) nearly completed the comeback, but Houston held on.

September (2-1-1)

TRANSACTION: On September 5th, CITY promoted Brendan McSorley from CITY2.

Sep 6 v. Dallas – Tie 1-1
Dallas played a man down after their backup keeper was sent off for DOGSO, taking down Klauss (16′). Against their third-string keeper, CITY registered 42 shots (14 on goal) but squandered the advantage. Célio Pompeu’s golazo (32′) gave CITY the lead, but Musa equalized moments later (34′).

TRANSACTION: On September 12th, CITY promoted Seth Antwi from CITY2. On the same date they also loaned Jake Girdwood-Reich to Auckland FC, which runs through June 2026.

Sep 13 @ Montréal – Win 2-0
CITY’s first trip to, and meeting with, Montréal. Wallem opened scoring (11′), and Hartel added the second after a classy Klauss touch (55′). Bürki was a brick wall and secured the clean sheet.

Sep 20 @ San Jose – Win 3-1
McSorley’s breakout performance: karate-kicked home Klauss’s headed pass (10′), assisted Hartel’s spinning strike from the top of the box (19′), then headed home Hartel’s service (45′). San Jose pulled one back via PK (31′). McSorley later cleared a goal off the line (61′), and Bürki made 9 saves to seal the win.

Sep 27 v. LAFC – Loss 0-3
Bouanga capitalized on a giveaway (15′), and Son added two more (45’+4, 60′) in a one-sided affair. NOTABLES: CITY officially eliminated from 2025 playoffs.

October (1-0-1)

Oct 4 @ Austin – Win 3-1
Hartel opened scoring with a golazo from distance (28′). Austin equalized (36′), but Hartel struck again for his brace (45′). Becher added insurance in stoppage time (90’+3).

Oct 18 v. Salt Lake – Tie 2-2
Decision Day, rainy night. CITY looked to play spoilers against playoff-chasing RSL. Olatunji’s brace (17′, 32′) put RSL up 2-0. Hartel’s PK (40′) was saved, but the keeper came off his line early—Löwen converted the retake (42′). CITY dominated the second half: Totland hit the crossbar (51′), Klauss hit the post (85′), then Klauss headed home a flicked throw-in to equalize (88′).