CITY2 Put on Dominant Display to Secure First Three Points in MLS NEXT Pro
What a way to start the season! STL CITY2 put on an impressive showing in front of the 6,012 fans in attendance, a sold-out home crowd at Robert R. Hermann Stadium. It was a back-and-forth encounter in the opening minutes with both teams searching for the season’s first goal. As the game opened up, St Louis CITY2 took control of possession, building out from the back and finding spaces on the wings.
It was Wan Kuzain who etched his name in St Louis CITY2 and MLS NEXT Pro history in the 19th minute after pouncing on a loose ball in the box to score the game’s first goal. After the goal, STL CITY2 continued their dominance and cruised into halftime with a one-goal lead.
The second half started similar to the first, with the fans banging drums and cheering on their STL CITY2. With the support of the fans in the stadium, CITY2 continued pushing for the second goal. After stretching the Rochester defense, Josh Dolling played in Vitor Dias, who was fouled in the penalty area after dribbling past the goalkeeper. In the 60th minute, Dias took the subsequent penalty kick and smashed it in the bottom corner to give STL CITY2 a two-goal lead.
The match changed in the 67th minute, after defender Ezra Armstrong received his second yellow card, leaving STL CITY2 a man down with roughly 20 minutes left on the clock. After the dismissal, Rochester, who had barely generated any significant chances to that point, were suddenly on the front foot. Though Rochester had the player advantage, STL CITY2’s intensity ensured that they kept their opponents at bay and sealed their historic first MLS NEXT Pro win of the season.
UP NEXT
St Louis CITY2 are back in action at Hermann Stadium on Sunday, April 10 against Tacoma Defiance as they look to build on their first historic win.
STARTING LINEUP
Eric Walker, Ben Di Rosa, Josh Yaro, Kyle Hiebert, Kwame Awuah, Akil Watts, Max Schneider, Wan Kuzain, Vitor Dias, Ezra Armstrong, Josh Dolling
GOALS
19' - Wan Kuzain
60' - Vitor Dias (Penalty)
To learn more about St Louis CITY2, please find all player bios and headshots in this link here. To stay up to date with St. Louis CITY SC, visit stlcitysc.com and follow the club on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
