St. Louis City break decades-long winless streak against LAFC with 2-1 victory
St. Louis City ended a 0-5-2 all-time record against LAFC on Wednesday night, capitalising on defensive goals to overcome a late consolation strike from the visitors.
St. Louis City have secured their first-ever victory against Los Angeles FC, ending a winless streak in previous meetings where the visitors held a dominant 5-2-0 record. The result on Wednesday night marks a significant shift in the fixture’s dynamic, with the home side capitalising on defensive contributions to secure a 2-1 win.
The breakthrough came early in the contest, with defender Tomas Totland opening the scoring in the fourth minute. Totland’s goal, his first of the season and third in 55 career appearances, was assisted by Eduard Löwen and Marcel Hartel. The assist marked Löwen’s first of the campaign and Hartel’s second, highlighting a coordinated offensive effort from the back line.
Rafael Santos doubled the lead in the 64th minute, scoring his first goal of the season and fourth in 92 career matches. Santos had entered the match in the 10th minute as a substitute for the injured Jaziel Orozco, providing immediate impact. His unassisted strike extended the home side’s advantage and effectively sealed the result before the final quarter of play.
Los Angeles FC mounted a late response through defender David Martínez, who scored a consolation goal in the 73rd minute. Martínez, who entered the match in the 70th minute, was assisted by Nkosi Tafari and Aaron Long. The goal, his fourth of the season and 11th in 58 appearances, cut the deficit to 2-1 but was insufficient to alter the outcome.
Goalkeeping performances defined the statistical narrative of the match. St. Louis City goalkeeper Roman Bürki made three saves to preserve the lead. In contrast, LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris made no saves, maintaining his league-leading eight clean sheets in 11 starts despite the defeat. Lloris had previously shut out St. Louis City 2-0 on March 14, with Mathieu Choinière scoring two long-range goals in that fixture.
The result provides a boost for St. Louis City, who have struggled offensively under coach Yoann Damet, scoring only 10 goals in their first 11 matches. The club, now at 3-6-3, will travel to face D.C. United on Saturday. LAFC, sitting at 6-4-3, prepares for a visit from Nashville SC on Sunday.
