LAFC vs. St. Louis CITY SC
Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. PT
🏟: BMO Stadium - Los Angeles, CA
🛍: LAFC HQ open 12-10 p.m. PT
🕹: Level Up Arcade open 5:30-7:30 p.m. PT pre-game and 90 minutes after the final whistle.
After a 2-1 road win over FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium on Saturday, LAFC next takes on St. Louis CITY SC at BMO Stadium on Wednesday, October 2.
Saturday’s victory boosted the Black & Gold (15W-8L-7D) into second place in the Western Conference, with 52 points from 30 matches. The club also secured its sixth playoff appearance in seven years.
Denis Bouanga’s goal on Saturday placed him in sole possession of second place in the 2024 MLS Golden Boot race with 18 goals. Bouanga and league leader Christian Benteke of D.C. United (21 goals) each have four regular-season games remaining.
This will be the fourth meeting between LAFC and St. Louis in their histories, with LAFC coming in undefeated (2W-0L-1D) in the three previous encounters. The clubs last met in May 2024, when the Black & Gold came out 2-0 winners thanks to a Bouanga double at CITYPARK.
CITY SC In Depth:
Coached by interim head coach John Hackworth, St. Louis CITY SC has been eliminated from playoff contention with three matches remaining. Last year, in the club’s inaugural season, St. Louis finished first the Western Conference regular season and earned the top seed in the 2023 MLS Cup playoffs.
The 2024 edition holds a record of 7W-11L-13D, with 34 points from 31 matches, but enters this match on a two-game winning streak. Its most recent victory was a 3-1 win against Sporting Kansas City at CITYPARK on Saturday.
German internationals Cedric Teuchert and Eduard Löwen are tied with Brazilian striker João Klauss for the team lead, with five goals each. “They've added some new players,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said Tuesday. “There's been a coaching change, a slight change in style, although I do see some of the general principles, habits and behaviors that the players had under Bradley Carnell are still there, with some subtle differences.”
The Black & Gold Can Win If:
It rides the energy of the two crucial wins it earned last week in the U.S. Open Cup Final and on the road against Eastern Conference power FC Cincinnati. Navigating a grueling stretch of seven matches in just 22 days, the Black & Gold will need to rely heavily on its home support. With a record of 16W-2L-5D in all competitions at BMO Stadium in 2024, LAFC will seek to close out its regular season by winning its two remaining home fixtures (including San Jose on Oct. 19) and enter the playoffs on a roll, and with a high seed.
CITY SC Can Win If:
It gets on the scoreboard first, seizing control of the match's tempo. With its postseason hopes already dashed, STL City can play spoiler against a team still vying for the Western Conference title. However, STL has only one road victory in league play in 2024. The visitors must find a way through a defense that has conceded just 17 goals in 15 league matches at BMO Stadium this year.
