Beth O'Malley is joined by sports columnist Ben Frederickson to discuss ºüÀêÊÓƵ City SC's loss to the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. The two talk about the team's struggles in its second season and try to figure out what can be done. Is a postseason appearance a necessity?
Pining for a tie? Wishing for a win. STL Soccer Talk
Pining for a tie? Wishing for a win. STL Soccer Talk
A rough game for ºüÀêÊÓƵ City SC: STL Soccer Talk
ºüÀêÊÓƵ City SC shut out for third consecutive game as winless streak hits seven games
ºüÀêÊÓƵ City SC coach Bradley Carnell is not looking for any sympathy following a 3-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday night at CityPark.
Neither are his players.
"We know we can do better," Carnell said. "It starts with us."
Explained City SC defender Jake Nerwinski, "That's not who we think we are. That's not what the fans deserve."
Djordje Mihailovic scored three times and City SC came up with its third successive offensive goose egg before a sold-out crowd that waited all night in the heat and humid for a reason to go crazy.
City SC (3-6-9, 18 points) has gone 292 minutes without scoring. The team's last tally came in a 3-3 tie June 1 at Inter Miami.
"I believe when that first win comes, we'll go on a roll for sure," Akil Watts said.
City SC remains winless over its past seven matches, a franchise low. City SC's last victory was a 3-1 triumph over the Chicago Fire on May 11.
It has also dropped two in a row during this rough 0-5-2 stretch that began with a 2-0 loss at home to the Los Angeles Football Club on May 15.
City SC had played relatively well in the two matches prior to Wednesday, including a 0-0 tie against Portland on June 8.
But the effort against Colorado (8-7-4, 28 points) was a major step back.
City SC wasted scoring chances and had trouble marking in its defensive end. Even sure-handed goalkeeper Roman Burki made a mistake with a bad outlet pass that landed on the foot of Mihailovic and led to the second goal in the 60th minute.
"We have to bridge a gap right now and it starts with us and our principles and our basics," Carnell said. "It's a challenge that I've embraced, it's a challenge my players will embrace."
City SC outshot Colorado 16-15 and had several solid chances but simply could not convert, a trend that has bothered it throughout the scoreless drought.
The best opportunity came in the 25th minute when Eduard Lowen hit the crossbar on a penalty kick with his team trailing by a goal. Lowen made his lone PK earlier in the season. City SC is 2 for 4 on penalty kicks this season.
Lowen also was halted on a nifty save by Colorado goalkeeper Zack Steffen midway through the second half. Steffen recorded his second successive clean sheet.
City SC held possession for 60 percent of the match.
"We know we're better than our results," Nerwinski said. "We have the skill, our tactics are right. It just comes down to more of a grit, getting it done. A mentality of just wanting to beat that player.
"And I think Colorado did that to us tonight."
Carnell showed his team some brief game film of the contest just minutes after the group arrived in the locker room.
He said it is time to flush the effort, move forward and remain focused.
"As a group, as an organization, we have to stick together," Carnell said. "We know we're moving in the right direction. Do I feel the frustration? One-hundred percent. Is it warranted? One-hundred percent. We need our fans to be connected with us in a tough time. I urge them and embrace them to do so."
Colorado took a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute on Mihailovic's first tally off a throw-in. Sebastian Anderson began the play with a long toss along the sideline that dangerously bounced in the box. Mihailovic got his head on the one-hopper and popped it past Burki.
Mihailovic added a penalty kick goal in stoppage time to complete the natural hat trick.
Burki had kept City SC in the match with a diving save off a shot by Omir Fernandez in the 59th minute to keep the deficit at one goal.
City SC will host Atlanta (5-8-5) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Defender Tim Parker sat out the match due to yellow card accumulation. Joakim Nilsson missed the contest with a hamstring injury, making City SC thin along the back line.
Moving out
City SC defender Nikolas Dyhr was been sold Tuesday to the Randers FC of the Danish Superliga.
The 22-year-old was signed in January. He made two starts among his six appearances.
His debut came March 1 in a 2-0 win over New York City FC.
"We want to thank Nikolas for all of his hard work and time while in ºüÀêÊÓƵ," City SC sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel said in a statement.Â
'We know we're better than what our results have been' says ºüÀêÊÓƵ City SC player
ºüÀêÊÓƵ City SC coach: 'We're all frustrated with the situation that we're in'
City SC goalie Roman Burki had a rough outing against the Colorado Rapids as they City SC lost 3-0 at CityPark in ºüÀêÊÓƵ.
ºüÀêÊÓƵ City SC comes up empty on offensive end again in 3-0 loss to Colorado
The ºüÀêÊÓƵ City SC offense remained in a deep freeze despite the steamy weather Wednesday night at CityPark.
Djordje Mihailovic scored three times and City SC came up with goose egg again in a 3-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids before a sold-out crowd.
City SC (3-6-9) was held without a goal for the third straight match. It has gone 292 minutes without scoring. The last tally came in a 3-3 tie June 1 at Inter Miami.
The hosts were not without their chances. They had 17 shots and put five on frame.
But Colorado keeper Zack Steffen made several quality saves to record his second successive clean sheet.
City SC remains winless over its past seven matches, a franchise low. City SC’s last victory was a 3-1 triumph over the Chicago Fire on May 11.
City SC had a plethora of solid chances but simply could not convert, a trend that has bothered it throughout the scoreless drought.
The best opportunity came in the 25th minute when Eduard Lowen hit the crossbar on a penalty kick blast with his team trailing by a goal. Lowen made his lone PK earlier in the season. City SC is 2 for 4 on penalty kicks this season. Lowen was also halted on a nifty save by Steffen midway through the second half.
Colorado took a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute on Mihailovic’s first tally off a throw-in. Sebastian Anderson began the play with a long toss along the sideline that bounced in the box. Mihailovic got his head on the one-hopper and popped it past keeper Roman Burki.
The Rapids doubled their lead in the 60th minute. Mihailovic intercepted a mishandled clearing attempt by Burki and quickly deposited the ball into the open net.
Mihailovic added a penalty kick goal in stoppage time to complete the natural hat trick.
Burki had kept City SC in the match with a diving hand save off a shot by Omir Fernandez in the 59th minute to keep the deficit at one goal.
SC defender Tim Parker sat out the match due to yellow card accumulation. Joakim Nilsson missed the contest with a hamstring injury, making City SC thin along the back line. Defender Jake Nerwinski made his first start of the season.
Moving out
City SC defender Nikolas Dyhr was been sold to the Randers FC of the Danish Superliga.
The 22-year-old was signed in January. He made two starts with six appearances
His debut came on March 1 in a 2-0 win over New York City FC.
“We want to thank Nikolas for all of his hard work and time while in ºüÀêÊÓƵ,†City SC sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel said in a statement.
Slap on the wrist
Burki, Parker, Tomas Totland, Nilsson and Lowen have all been fined an undisclosed amount for violation of the mass confrontation policy during Saturday’s 2-0 loss in Dallas.
The incident occurred in the 27th minute after Nilsson was whistled for a foul in the box that led to a successful penalty kick by Jesus Ferreira
The five players are accused of inciting or escalating a mass confrontation, according to an announcement from the MLS office.
It is the first violation of the season for City SC.
Coach Bradley Carnell has been issued a warning as well.
Canadian Stars
City SC defender Kyle Hiebert was not the only player to miss Wednesday’s match while training with Canada for the upcoming Copa America event.
Colorado back liner Moise Bombito is also on Canada’s 26-player roster that will open the tournament on Thursday night against Argentina in Atlanta.
Hiebert, a native of Winnipeg, saw action for Canada in a friendly against France leading up to the tournament. He will miss at least four City SC matches while on national team duty.
There are 13 players from the MLS on the Canada roster.
ºüÀêÊÓƵ City SC could net nearly $1 million of GAM by trading Aziel Jackson to Columbus
Aziel Jackson's trade from ºüÀêÊÓƵ City SC to reigning Major League Soccer champion Columbus was completed Tuesday in a deal that could net $900,000 for City SC.
A 22-year-old midfielder, Jackson has played in 16 of City SC's 17 MLS games this season including eight starts. He has come off the bench in the seven of his last eight appearances.
The trade was reported by several outlets Monday but was unconfirmed by either team until Tuesday.
“We want to thank AZ for his time and contribution to our team as he played a key part in our successful inaugural season,†City SC sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel said in a news release. “This is a mutually beneficial trade that provides us flexibility to potentially strengthen the roster in the summer, while giving AZ a fresh start in Columbus.â€
Jackson, a native of New York, scored one goal and had four assists during City SC's debut season in 2023. He has not hit the scoresheet in 2024 and played in 41 games for City SC over two seasons.
In return for Jackson, City SC will receive $325,000 in general allocation money (GAM) that can be used for the 2024 roster and $325,000 in GAM that can be used in 2025.
Also, City SC could be in line for another $250,000 in GAM if Jackson hits performance-based incentives.
General allocation money can be used in a number of ways to help a team stay in salary cap compliance.
Jackson won't be available to play for Columbus until the summer transfer window opens July 18.
Winless in six consecutive games, City SC (3-4-9, 18 points) opens a two-game homestand at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday by playing host to Colorado (7-7-4, 25 points) at CityPark. At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Atlanta (4-8-5, 17 points) visits City SC.