Austin II beat St. Louis City II 2:0 in the MLS Next Pro Group Stage at Enerգyzер Park on Saturday evening. The visitors were clinical when it mattered, with two goals in quick succession to settle the tie. It was a result that put them top of the group, though the table already reflected their standing.
St. Louis City II started brightly enough, and here's the thing — they had a penalty chance at the 14th minute which S. Dobrijevic missed. That moment shifted the momentum. Austin II took the lead shortly after, when I. Sall found the net in the 17th minute. By then the hosts were chasing the game rather than dictating it.
St. Louis City II did not fold, but they lacked a clear outlet. The match was punctuated by yellow cards for R. Thomas and Z. Zengue before the interval, and C. Ayala picked up another at 55 minutes. There were changes on both sides, with P. Gryczewski and T. Pearce introduced for the hosts at 46 minutes.
Austin II doubled their lead in the 63rd minute through D. Abarca, and that was the point where the tie effectively closed. The hosts made three changes at 61 minutes — L. Chamberlain, I. Sall and R. Thomas all came off — but the response was muted. More yellow cards followed for L. Feliciano and C. Brunet, and a late booking for E. Lauta in stoppage time.
St. Louis City II dominated possession at 65 per cent and had six corners to two, yet the statistics do not tell the full story. They registered four shots on target against five for the visitors, who took fewer chances but converted more. The hosts had 83 attacks to 78, but without cutting through the defence, those numbers meant little.
We had predicted an away win before kick-off, and the result confirmed that assessment. Austin II were not dominant in every phase, but they were sharp in the final third and held their shape when St. Louis City II pushed forward. A 2:0 margin says it all.
The result moves Austin II further clear at the top of the table on 62 points from 27 games, while St. Louis City II remain in sixth place with 44 points. The visitors extended their unbeaten run, having won four of their last five matches. The hosts, meanwhile, have now lost 13 of their 27 outings this season.
