St. Louis City SC closed last season with wins in three of its final five games, going 6-4-4 under John Hackworth after the summer transfer window opened, but little of that momentum carried over into the 2025 season. Yes, the team had two wins and two ties in its first four games, but it then went winless in its next 11 MLS games.
So as City SC makes another late run under another interim coach, this time David Critchley, with the team going for a season-high third win in a row Saturday against Los Angeles FC, is there a way for the team to carry a strong finish into next season?
“In my opinion, it is possible,” said midfielder Marcel Hartel, “but then we have to keep going with Critch and with the whole staff. Because my opinion is that he is a very, very good coach. He put so much effort in this team, in this club, and we have to give him time together in a completely full season. He knows the team exactly. He knows maybe where we have to improve, where we have to get new players at which position, where we need something new that is not in the team now. And so I hope at first, we have to make the decision with a new sports director and then with the coach, and I hope that Critch stays as our coach, because he’s doing an amazing job and now with the results on our side, I hope the club will make that decision.”
City SC has points in three games in a row and would have points in four of its past five games if not for the errant penalty kick call at Vancouver.
Hiebert at the ready
After the game Saturday, Critchley said he gave shoutouts in the locker room to three players after the game. Two, Brendan McSorley and Roman Burki, were obvious.
“The third shoutout was Kyle Hiebert,” Critchley said. “And the reason being is, and I made sure everyone knew this, that is the exact type of player and professional that I want to work with every day. His last start was June 25, then he came on in early July for one minute of football, and ever since that date, he’s kept himself ready. Trains hard. He trains well. He’s a professional on and off the field, and he gets his 90 minutes, and he shows every single player in that locker room for us and for them, that you stay ready and your opportunity may come, but I need you to be ready, and Kyle’s gonna make it hard for me this weekend now to choose, to choose a back four, which is fantastic.”
“I think this is a part of the job,” Hiebert said, “just trying to be a good pro and train hard. And I played a City2 game and we had the Aston Villa game, so I was fortunate to get some minutes in there with the first team as well.”
Hiebert started each of City SC’s first 17 games, including two Open Cup games, in Olof Mellberg’s 3-5-2 formation, but when Critchley took over and went to a four-man back line, Hiebert dropped out of the lineup. The San Jose game was just his third start under Critchley, who in recent weeks has had more options at center back. Against San Jose, City SC was without its two starting center backs from the previous game, Henry Kessler and Fallou Fall, who were either injured or sick.
“Roller coaster,” Hiebert said of his season. “Started playing a bunch, and then didn’t play for a long time, and now back in. But after the first couple years, I know that you can be in or out, and so much can change so fast. Just trying to have a positive mindset and train hard every day, and when my number gets called, be ready.”
Health check
Fall and forward Sangbin Jeong were back on the practice field Tuesday and will be available Saturday. Kessler, who missed the game Saturday with a lower body injury, didn’t practice Tuesday but Critchley said he expected him back Wednesday. As the numbers start to build up over a long season, Critchley gave Chris Durkin, Conrad Wallem and Roman Burki the day off.
“(Chris) and Conrad, they hit some really exceptional high numbers (in work rate),” Critchley said. “Just wanted them to be fresh for tomorrow, Thursday and Friday. So no concerns.”
Notes
Brendan McSorley made the first team of the MLS team of the matchday after his two-goal, one-assist performance. Hartel, with a goal and an assist, made the second team. … Yes, City SC is mathematically alive in the Western Conference playoff race, but it’s the finest of fine lines keeping them there. A loss by City SC in any of its final three games, or a win by San Jose or Dallas or Houston or Real Salt Lake, or a tie by Dallas, would eliminate City SC. … City2 needs two points, either won by it or lost by New York Red Bulls II or one point gained or lost per team, to clinch the best overall record in MLS Next Pro, which would mean City2, as long as it was alive in the playoffs, it would be playing at home and that the championship game would be played at Energizer Park if City2 was in it. In 2022, City2 reached the final but had to go on the road to Columbus for that, and lost. Last season, it reached the Western Conference final but had to go on the road for that, and lost. City2 plays its final regular-season home game on Sunday against LAFC2.
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Tom Timmermann | Post-Dispatch
Soccer reporter
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