Coach Bradley Carnell says the team is inspired by fans at CITYPARK

Home-field advantage has long been a truism in sports. St. Louis CITY SC currently boasts a 6-2 record in eight home MLS matches so far. CITY has scored 22 goals and conceded six goals in those eight matches. The latest victory came Saturday in a 3-0 win against the Houston Dynamo FC.

As midfielder Njabulo Blom put it, “We aren’t going to let anyone disrespect us on our home field.”

Head coach Bradley Carnell believes the supporters at CITYPARK contribute to CITY’s success on the pitch. “The fans just bring another notch, and we have it really good here in St. Louis,” he said. “The fans have taken this on and run with it. We’re so proud of the fans, we’re so proud of the energy.”

A Chippy First Half
City’s Indiana Vassilev drew the first penalty after being fouled by Houston’s Chase Gasper. “[Vassilev]’s got an exceptional ability to get his body between the man and the ball,” Carnell said post-match. “[Vassilev] shields the ball really well. And if players try and force that, then it’s a foul.”

CITY’s Eduard Löwen stepped up and scored the penalty. “When you score that early in the game, you have more confidence. You have just more freedom,” Löwen said after the game.

Houston continued to battle throughout the first half despite going down a goal early in the match. Both teams managed to generate dangerous opportunities with emotions coming to a boil during first half stoppage time as Blom and Houston’s Adalberto Carrasquilla shoved each other. That prompted players on both sides to step in creating a major altercation that challenged referee Joseph Dickerson to maintain control of the match.

Houston’s Iván Franco appeared to put his arm around the neck of CITY’s Nicholas Gioacchini. Gioacchini fell down and Dickerson handed Franco a red card. But Dickerson reversed Franco’s red card after further review with the video-assistant referee.

Carnell prepares his players for difficult moments like this. “We test their resilience in training, and we try and replicate certain moments where it’s tough,” Carnell said. “The biggest thing is to keep the emotions in check.”

A Nervy Second Half
Houston’s José Artur de Lima Jr. fouled Gioacchini about 40 yards away from Houston’s goal in the 50th minute. Set-piece specialist Löwen stood over the ball and delivered a pinpoint cross to 6’3” Lucas Bartlett at the back post.

Bartlett recognized his best option would be to head the ball to a teammate rather than at the goal. Bartlett’s header made its way to Tomás Ostrák who put CITY up 2-0.

Ostrák has been in and out of the starting 11 for CITY throughout the season.

Even so, he has racked up two goals and two assists in 15 appearances so far this season. “Every game I feel better and better. I feel really good,” Ostrák said. “I can’t wait for the next games, and I hope that I can improve and score more goals for the team.”