St. Louis CITY SC recorded an emphatic 4-0 win against Real Salt Lake to maintain a perfect 5-0-0 record to start the season. After a goalless first half, CITY SC scored four unanswered second half goals to earn another huge three points. CITY SC rallied behind goals from Niko Gioacchini, João Klauss (2) and midfielder Rasmus Alm, who scored his first goal of the season.
Five Straight Wins
With the win against Real Salt Lake, St. Louis CITY SC starts the MLS season with a perfect 5-0-0 record. CITY SC joins the 1996 LA Galaxy team and the 2012 Sporting Kansas City team, as the only clubs to have collected 15 points in their first five matches of a season in MLS history.
Five Goals for Klauss
St. Louis CITY SC forward and Designated Player João Klauss is on red hot form at the moment. The Brazilian scored twice to take his tally to five goals in five games this season which is good for second in the goal scoring charts behind Jordan Morris. Klauss has continued his streak of having a goal contribution in every game this season and joins the company of only five players in the last 20 years who have been involved in a goal in each of their first five MLS matches: Sporting KC’s Alan Pulido in 2020, Portland’s Brian Fernandez in 2019, Montreal’s Blerim Dzemalli in 2017, Seattle’s Nicolas Lodeiro in 2016, and Columbus’ Federico Higuain in 2012.
Roman Bürki Another Clean Sheet
CITY SC goalkeeper and captain Roman Bürki recorded his second clean sheet of the season after recording eight saves in the match, including a huge stop before halftime to keep the match level.
Niko Gioacchini Scores First Again
Gioacchini has scored first for the second straight game in a row. The forward now has two goals and an assist in five games. Gioacchini has formed a formidable partnership with Klauss, with both players finding the back of the net for the second game in a row this season.
Eduard Löwen the Provider
St. Louis CITY SC’s Designated Player Löwen recorded his fourth assist of the season after rolling a pass in for Alm who buried CITY SC’s fourth goal of the night. Löwen is tied for the most assist in MLS this season.
Additional Notes
- CITY SC becomes the sixth team in MLS history to open a season with multiple goals in each of the first five games, and the first to do so since 2019 LAFC and 2019 Toronto FC
- CITY SC has a league high 11 goal differential through five games this season, which is the best ever start in MLS history.
- CITY SC joins the 1996 LA Galaxy team and the 2012 Sporting Kansas City team, as the only clubs to have collected 15 points in their first five matches of a season in MLS history.
- Eduard Löwen recorded his fourth assist of the season, which is tied for first in MLS.
- CITY SC goalkeeper and captain Roman Bürki recorded his second clean sheet of the season after recording eight saves in the match, including a huge stop before halftime to keep the match level.
- Klauss now has five goals and an assist in five games so far this season.
- Klauss has scored or assisted in all five of CITY SC’s matches this season.
- CITY SC joins the 1996 LA Galaxy team and the 2012 Sporting Kansas City team, as the only clubs to have collected 15 points in their first five matches of a season in MLS history.
- CITY SC has scored 15 goals in the league which is highest goals by any team this season. CITY SC’s 15 goals has tied the record for the most goals in history through the first five games of the season
- With his goal tonight, Rasmus Alm became CITY SC’s eight goal scorer this season.
Goal-Scoring Plays
STL – Niko Gioacchini, 47 minute: Nicholas Gioacchini left footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Indiana Vassilev with a cross following a corner.
STL – João Klauss, 61 minute: João Klauss right footed volley from the center of the box to the bottom right corner.
STL – João Klauss, 66 minute: João Klauss right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner.
STL – Rasmus Alm, 76 minute : Rasmus Alm right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Eduard Löwen.
Next Game
St. Louis CITY SC returns to CITYPARK next Saturday, April 1 to take on Minnesota United FC at home.
Real Salt Lake (1-3-0, 3 pts) vs. St. Louis CITY SC (5-0-0, 15 pts)
Mar. 25, 2023 – America First Field (Sandy, Utah)
Goals by Half
Real Salt Lake: First (0) Second (0) Final (0)
Saint Louis CITY: First (0) Second (4) Final (4)
Scoring Summary:
STL: Gioacchini (Vassilev), 47
STL: Klauss, 61
STL: Klauss, 67
STL: Alm (Löwen), 76
Misconduct Summary:
RSL: Damir Kreilach (caution), 13
STL: Lucas Bartlett (caution), 55
RSL: Emeka Eneli (caution), 68
RSL: Justen Glad (caution), 75
STL: Rasmus Alm (caution), 85
Lineups:
RSL: GK Zac MacMath; D Andrew Brody, D Brayan Vera, D Justen Glad, D Emeka Eneli; M Pablo Ruiz, M Damir Kreilach © (Ilijah Paul 72’), M Justin Meram (Jefferson Savarino 60’), M Carlos Gomez (Danny Musovski 72’), M Jasper Loffelsend; F Anderson Julio (Maikel Chang 72’)
Substitutes Not Used: D Delentz Pierre; M Scott Caldwell; GK Tomas Gomez, F Bertin Jacquesson, M Moses Nyeman
TOTAL SHOTS: 19; SHOTS ON GOAL: 8; FOULS: 8; OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 9; SAVES: 4
STL: GK Roman Bürki ©; D Jake Nerwinski, D Tim Parker, D Lucas Bartlett, D John Nelson; M Jared Stroud (Isak Jensen 60’), M Eduard Löwen (Njabulo Blom 77’), M Indiana Vassilev (Akil Watts 77’); M Tomáš Ostrák (Rasmus Alm 60’); F João Klauss; F Nicholas Gioacchini (Célio Pompeu 86’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Ben Lundt; D Josh Yaro; D Selmir Pidro; F Samuel Adeniran
TOTAL SHOTS: 14; SHOTS ON GOAL: 8; FOULS: 20; OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 8
Referee: Mark Allatin
Assistant Referees: Jason White, Diego Blas
Fourth Official: Matthew Thompson
VAR: Jorge Gonzalez
AVAR: Jonathan Johnson
Venue: America First Field
Weather: Clear, 31 degrees
