Los Angeles vs St. Louis City

BMO Stadium forms the backdrop for a first-ever Major League Soccer match between Los Angeles and St. Louis City.

Los Angeles bounced back from a 1-0 deficit to hold San Jose Earthquakes to a 1-1 home draw at the weekend, curtailing a dreadful three-game losing MLS streak. Despite sitting on the cusp of another playoff qualification, manager Steve Cherundolo unless he can put a stop to his side’s freefall. But the reigning MLS Cup holders haven’t fared well at BMO Stadium lately, picking up just one victory in their last seven home outings across all competitions (D2, L4). That’s not to mention they failed to get on the scoresheet in four of those games, netting precisely once in two of the other three. Yet Los Angeles’ proneness for fast starts could bail them out of trouble as they’ve broken the deadlock in seven of their 11 home league matches this season.

Meanwhile, St. Louis City’s debut MLS campaign has been an utter success so far, as a 57% win ratio across their first 21 league fixtures (12/21) places them at the top of the Western Conference at the beginning of this round. The visitors’ notable rise in form in the build-up to this trip has seen them go from four consecutive MLS games without winning (D1, L3) to three victories in a row, with the last two yielding a clean sheet. But manager Bradley Carnell grasps the significance of a quick-fire start after testifying to four defeats in five away league matches in which his men conceded first this season (W1). Indeed, three of St. Louis’ five MLS losses on the road have come ‘to nil.’