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Los Angeles FC
Major League Soccer
Oct 3, 2024 at 3.30am UK
Banc of California Stadium
St Louis City

Los Angeles
1 - 0
St Louis City

Bouanga (45+1')
Bogusz (8'), Cherundolo (8'), Chanot (12')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Hartel (7'), Becher (90+5')

Preview: Los Angeles FC vs. St Louis City - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's Major League Soccer clash between Los Angeles FC and St Louis City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Los Angeles FC will be aiming to heap pressure on Los Angeles Galaxy at the top of the MLS Western Conference when they welcome St Louis City to the BMO Stadium on Thursday.
 
Following their US Open Cup triumph, the home side resumed league duty with a hard-fought victory over FC Cincinnati, while the away side cruised to a 3-1 win over Sporting Kansas City.


Match preview

Cristian Olivera of Los Angeles FC pictured on May 11, 2024© Imago

Since crashing out of the Leagues Cup to Columbus Crew, Los Angeles FC had seen their MLS form falter, having gone five straight matches without a victory prior to their US Open Cup final against Sporting Kansas City last Thursday.
 
Facing off against Cincinnati last time out, Steve Cherundolo's men edged ahead 10 minutes before the interval thanks to David Martinez but were pegged back by Luca Orellano just past the hour mark, after which Denis Bouanga grabbed the winner 17 minutes from time.
 
With LA Galaxy not in action during the last round of matches, Los Angeles FC now sit six points behind their foes, albeit with a game in hand.

The Black and Gold have already got the better of St Louis this term courtesy of a 2-0 triumph in May's earlier meeting, which, in all honesty, could have easily swung the other way on another day.
 
In the first of three games over the next two weeks against teams currently in the bottom three, Thursday's hosts know a 100% record from here on out guarantees them top spot in the West and will be keen to get off to a good start.

St Louis City manager John Hackworth pictured on September 1, 2024© Imago
 
St Louis City claimed back-to-back league wins for the first time since the turn of the campaign as they saw off the threat of Sporting Kansas City to claim a routine 3-1 win at CITYPARK on Sunday.
 
Cedric Teuchert was up to his first-half exploits once again with a 33rd-minute opener, after which strikes from Rasmus Alm and Eduard Lowen either side of Stephen Afrifa's consolation wrapped up all three points for John Hackworth's men.
 
Only Minnesota United have picked up more points than St Louis City over the last five gameweeks, and this upturn in form has propelled them to 12th in the conference standings, albeit with no chance of playoff contention due to their 11-point gap from ninth-place Portland Timbers.
 
Nonetheless, the Missouri-based outfit will be keen to string together a strong run of results in the final few weeks ahead of their third Major League Soccer campaign, where they will be looking to make an instant return to the playoffs.

Los Angeles FC Major League Soccer form:


Los Angeles FC form (all competitions):


St Louis City Major League Soccer form:


Team News

Denis Bouanga of LAFC celebrates against LA Galaxy on September 14, 2024© Imago

Henry Kessler is unavailable for St Louis City due to a concussion protocol, while Joakim Nilsson continues his spell out of action with a torn hamstring.
 
Tomas Ostrak and Celio Pompeu are also out of contention for the visitors' trip to Los Angeles as they remain sidelined through ankle and foot injuries respectively.
 
American duo Chris Durkin and Indiana Vassilev are set to miss a second game on the bounce, having both sustained injuries in last week's 2-1 win over San Jose Earthquakes.
 
Sergi Palencia will serve a one-game suspension due to an accumulation of yellow cards, making him ineligible to feature for Los Angeles FC here.
 
The home side will also be without defenders Jesus Murillo, Aaron Long and Lorenzo Dellavalle, but Cristian Olivera is back after making his first league outing since the beginning of September last time out.


Los Angeles FC possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Segura, Chanot, Hollingshead; Campos, O'Brien, Sanchez, Olivera; Bogusz, Bouanga, Giroud

St Louis City possible starting lineup:
Burki; Totland, Kessler, Hiebert, Horn; Alm, Lowen, Watts, Hartel; Teuchert, Joao Klauss



SM words green background

We say: Los Angeles FC 3-1 St Louis City

Despite their recent resurgence, St Louis City have remained defensively fragile and are set for a tough test in Los Angeles.
 
We can see the home side coming out victorious at the end of the 90 minutes.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Game History

How you voted: Los Angeles vs St Louis City

Los Angeles FC
95.0%
Draw
5.0%
St Louis City
0.0%
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Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721


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