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St Louis City
Major League Soccer
Apr 7, 2024 at 1.30am UK
CityPark
FC Dallas

St Louis City
0 - 0
Dallas


Parker (15'), Totland (69'), Totland (82')
FT

Fraser (12'), Durkin (68')

Preview: St Louis City vs. Dallas - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Major League Soccer clash between St Louis City and Dallas, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Gamweek seven in the MLS Regular Season tosses up an intriguing Western Conference battle with St Louis City preparing to take on FC Dallas at CityPark in Missouri on Sunday morning.

Both sides have made a less-than-ideal start to the 2024 campaign, with the hosts currently sitting in 10th place in the Conference standings while the visitors are 12th.


Match preview

St. Louis CITY SC starting eleven pose for a picture on March 24, 2024© Reuters

St Louis City had a debut season to remember last year when they finished top of the pile in the West in the regular season and netted the third-most goals across the MLS (62), only behind Columbus Crew (67) and Atlanta United (66).

However, the start to their sophomore campaign has not gone exactly as Bradley Carnell would have hoped so far, as his side come into this match outside the playoff qualification places and riding a four-match winless streak, which included three consecutive draws before a 3-1 loss to Real Salt Lake last weekend.

Still, having avoided defeat in their first five matches of the season (W1 D4 L0), St Louis became the first expansion team in the history of the MLS to start each of their first two seasons in the top flight unbeaten after five games and are the fifth team to manage that feat overall.

Last weekend, though, City were beaten 3-1 by RSL at America First Field when Indiana Vassilev scored his first goal of the season to give his side the lead, but a Cristian Arango hat-trick in the second half saw the points remain in Utah.

While it is not the absolute worst start for St Louis, all things considered, Carnell and co will be hoping to get back to the form that saw them stun their doubters in their first season in the big time and will see this as a perfect opportunity to add to their lifetime record of 12 wins, three draws and four losses at CityPark.

Notably, the hosts have only lost once in their last nine regular season home matches and are unbeaten in their last four home games across all competitions, including two wins and two draws.

FC Dallas midfielder Sebastian Lletget (8) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal on March 17, 2024© Reuters

The upcoming match will be the third encounter between these two teams, and each side has secured one victory previously. The hosts won 2-1 at this venue in August last year, while the visitors secured a 2-0 win in Dallas a couple of months earlier.

However, Dallas head into this fixture in very poor form. After beating the San Jose Earthquakes in gameweek one, the Toros have conceded four consecutive defeats and have yet to earn a single point on the road this term.

Last weekend, Eugene Ansah made his first career start in the MLS for the Hoops and marked the occasion with a goal in the 51st minute, but Austin, a team that had not won a game since mid-July last season, dominated Dallas in the final quarter of the match and ultimately deserved all three points on the day.

Arguably, the major issue for Nico Estevez's side so far has been their defensive struggles, as they conceded two or more goals in each of their last four games, and another poor display here could lead to the side's fifth successive loss, which would be the longest losing streak in the club's history.

St Louis City Major League Soccer form:


St Louis City form (all competitions):


Dallas Major League Soccer form:


Dallas form (all competitions):



Team News

St Louis CITY SC head coach Bradley Carnell looks on on March 10, 2024© Reuters

Carnell will have to make do without Eduard Lowen and Joakim Nilsson, who are ruled out for this match due to hamstring and rib injuries, respectively. Tim Parker has been struggling with a back injury and has been flagged as a doubt.

Vassilev became the eighth different goal scorer in league games for St Louis this season, and his goal last week, which clocked in at two minutes and three seconds into the match, marked the side's quickest goal in their MLS history.

The 23-year-old should maintain his place in attacking midfield alongside Aziel Jackson and Celio Pompeu, while Brazilian attacker Joao Klauss is expected to lead the line.

Injuries have played a major part in the Hoops' poor form this season, with Asier Illarramendi, the crucial midfield anchor for the club, and Jesus Ferreira, the top scorer for the past two seasons, both ruled out of action due to muscle injuries in recent weeks.

Geovane Jesus, Paxton Pomykal, and Alan Velasco are also confined to the treatment table due to knee injuries, while Logan Farrington is doubtful as he works his way back to full fitness following a stint on the sidelines.


St Louis City possible starting lineup:
Burki; Totland, Yaro, Parker, Markanich; Durkin, Blom; Vassilev, Jackson, Pompeu; Klauss

Dallas possible starting lineup:
Paes; Twumasi, Ibeagha, Tafari, Junqua; Arriola, Fraser, Lletget, Sealy; Ansah, Musa


SM words green background

We say: St Louis City 2-1 Dallas

While St Louis City are yet to hit the heights we saw from them last season, they are undoubtedly the side with the better form coming into this match and are unbeaten at home after four games in all competitions. The visitors are missing key players and are showing few promising signs at the moment, which is why we feel they will concede a fifth straight defeat in this one.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.




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Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721


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