John Hackworth believes St. Louis Metropolis’s derby with Sporting Kansas Metropolis is vital to MLS as they resume their rivalry on Saturday.
The final two conferences between the perimeters have completed stage, with each ending in dramatic style.
St. Louis Metropolis come into the most recent version having misplaced simply one in every of their final six outings, although that was their final residence match.
They sit thirteenth within the Jap Convention, stage on factors with Sporting above them, and Hackworth is now eager to construct on the momentum from their win over San Jose Earthquakes final Saturday.
“We talked about making an attempt to complete these final 5 video games with a whole lot of momentum, displaying our followers what we had been able to,” Hackworth stated.
“We knew we needed to go on the highway in one in every of these three video games and achieve success, and now we simply have to construct on that.
“This rivalry is de facto necessary to our league. It’s two groups who’re going to go after it and play by their ideas, leaving all of it on the market to see what occurs – two dramatic attracts set us up for this contest.”
Prep work #AllForCITY x @BJC_HealthCare pic.twitter.com/lViJaTEety
— St Louis CITY SC (@stlCITYsc) September 26, 2024
In the meantime, Kansas Metropolis have received simply one in every of their final 5 matches in all competitions and suffered a 3-1 defeat to Los Angeles FC within the US Open Cup last on Wednesday.
Head coach Peter Vermes was left disillusioned by the outcome however believes there are positives to take from the efficiency.
“I give the fellows a whole lot of credit score. I’m very pleased with the trouble that the fellows put into that sport,” Vermes stated.
“It by no means feels good to lose. However I additionally assume that the group did themselves proud in the best way they carried out. We had good responses in that sport, however in the long run, we fell quick.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
St. Louis Metropolis – Cedric Teuchert
Cedric Teuchert scored within the fourth minute in every of St. Louis Metropolis’s final two matches.
Teuchert is one in every of six gamers to attain a couple of aim within the opening 4 minutes of matches this season and the second to take action in consecutive matches (Mikael Uhre).
Cedric Teuchert has made an instantaneous influence with @stlCITYsc since becoming a member of the squad this summer season.
He’ll look to attain extra objectives in his first rivalry match in opposition to Sporting KC this weekend. Watch with #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/Ci2rShNTOs pic.twitter.com/2NcOYP7yHk
— Main League Soccer (@MLS) September 27, 2024
Sporting Kansas Metropolis – Tim Melia
Each objectives Sporting Kansas Metropolis conceded of their loss to Minnesota United on Saturday got here within the last half-hour.
Sporting have allowed 31 objectives within the last half-hour of matches this season, solely San Jose (33) has allowed extra, and Tim Melia might be hoping his focus ranges can enhance forward of Saturday’s match.
MATCH PREDICTION: ST. LOUIS CITY WIN
St. Louis Metropolis have misplaced solely two of their final 10 matches in all competitions (W4 D4), together with selecting up a 2-1 win at San Jose on Saturday. St. Louis haven’t received two straight matches in all competitions since wins over Minnesota United and Sporting Kansas Metropolis final September.
Sporting have misplaced 10 of their final 12 regular-season away matches, together with a 2-0 loss in Seattle of their final league highway match. Solely league-worst San Jose (11) have misplaced extra away matches this season than Sporting (10).
Nevertheless, Kansas Metropolis are unbeaten in 4 straight conferences with St. Louis (W2 D2) after St. Louis received two of the primary three encounters. This would be the eighth assembly between St. Louis and Kansas Metropolis, totaling 10.4 % (8/77) of all of St. Louis’ video games in all competitions up thus far.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
St. Louis Metropolis – 43.4%
Draw – 26.7%
Sporting Kansas Metropolis – 29.9%
