Entering the contest amidst a three-match unbeaten run, St Louis CITY2 (1-1-2, 6 points) will travel to the Lone Star State for a meeting with Austin FC II (1-1-0, 3 points) on Friday, April 12. Kickoff is slated for 8:00 p.m. CT, with the match streaming on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app.
Austin FC II got the better of CITY2 in each of their two meetings last season. On both occasions, the teams played to scoreless first halves before the Verde & Black scored second half goals to pick up the victories.
CITY2 is continuing to find ways to pick up points, earning a third-straight result in their last match against Portland Timbers2. CITY2 took the lead in the 20th minute courtesy of the club’s two 2024 MLS SuperDraft selections, with 17th overall pick Hosei Kijima feeding 79th overall pick Brendan McSorley to put the team ahead. It was both players’ first CITY2 goal contribution of the season. Portland brought the teams even again with a goal in the 72nd minute, pushing the match to a 1-1 draw. CITY2 earned the additional point by winning the ensuing penalty shootout 5-3.
Kijima and McSorley became the fifth and sixth players to register a goal contribution for CITY2 this season. Of those contributors, four arrived to the club in the offseason (Kijima, McSorley, Seth Antwi and Jay Reid), highlighting the impact they’ve already made early in the season.
Through four matches, CITY2 has displayed its ability to put pressure on the opposing team, accumulating a plus-39 advantage in total shots and plus-17 advantage in total shots on target compared to their opponents. These totals lead all teams in MLS NEXT Pro, with Ventura County FC possessing the next highest total shots margin (+21) and VCFC and New York Red Bulls II tied for the next highest total shots on target margin (+11).
Away from CITYPARK this season, CITY2 is 1-0-0, having beaten cross-state rival Sporting Kansas City II 2-1 in the team’s lone road match thus far. Dating back to the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season, CITY2 is unbeaten over its last six away contests (3-0-3, 12 points).
Austin FC II will be playing in their first match since winning a duel against Houston Dynamo FC 2 on March 28. The 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Cup Champions will be looking to earn their first home result of the season, having lost their only home contest thus far 3-1 to Tacoma Defiance. Four different players have picked up a goal contribution this season, with forward CJ Fodrey and midfielder Bryan Arellano currently tied for the team lead in goals with one apiece.
