LAFC, jockeying for playoff seeding, face resurgent St. Louis City

Field Level Media|published: Wed 2nd October, 02:37 2024

Sep 28, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo looks on during the second half against FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Los Angeles FC will look to continue the momentum off their U.S. Open Cup championship and make it back-to-back MLS wins when they play host to St. Louis City on Wednesday.

The Black and Gold are coming off a 2-1 victory over FC Cincinnati on Saturday. Los Angeles FC (15-8-7, 52 points) snapped a stretch of five league matches without a victory and secured an MLS Cup playoff berth for the sixth time in seven years.

"It is great to have (clinched), but it doesn't change our mentality in the next games and weeks," LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo said. "We want to get as many points as we possibly can and try to improve. There is still plenty of learning and improving to do."

Denis Bouanga scored the winner against Cincinnati, giving him 18 goals -- three behind D.C. United's Christian Benteke in the MLS Golden Boot race. David Martinez, who opened the scoring against the Orange and Blue, now has two goals in his past three MLS matches and four goals this year across all competitions.

The Black and Gold earned a 2-0 victory at St. Louis on May 15 -- the only other meeting between the clubs this season. LAFC, who have four matches to play, sit six points behind the first-place Los Angeles Galaxy in the race for the top spot in the Western Conference. Real Salt Lake are tied with LAFC at 52 points.

St. Louis City (7-11-13, 34 points), meanwhile, is looking to make it three straight wins despite having already been eliminated from playoff contention.

St. Louis is 0-2-1 in three all-time meetings with LAFC.

"It's a huge game, and it's nice that we have put together two really good results (and) two good performances," said interim head coach John Hackworth. "We still have things we need to work on in order to be successful against a team like LAFC. At the same time, I think the belief is there."

Cedric Teuchert tallied a goal and two assists in a 3-1 win over Sporting Kansas City on Saturday. The German forward has eight goal contributions (five goals and three assists) in seven matches this season. Joao Klauss has five goals and three assists in 24 appearances for St. Louis City this season.

--Field Level Media

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