Saint Louis FC Needs To Beat Louisville City Saturday Night At Soccer Park

Saint Louis FC welcomes Louisville City FC to World Wide Technology Soccer Park tomorrow night in their final home match of the season. The game is set to kick off at 7:30 pm with a fireworks show taking place immediately following the end of the match. Fans are asked to wear green to “Green Out The Park”. The team will have several contests for fans as well as discounts in the Fan Shop.

A limited amount of tickets still remain. Call 636-680-0997 or visit SaintLouisFC.com for more information.

The game will feature two of the USL’s leading scorers in STLFC’s Irvin Herrera and Louisville City’s Jon Chandler Hoffman. Each of the players have 14 goals on the season and sit just behind the 15 goals scored by Jack McBean and FC Cincinnati’s Sean Okoli.

The game is the second and final leg of the Kings’ Cup Rivalry Series between the clubs. Louisville City won the first leg of the series 2-0 back in May at Louisville Slugger Field.

The USL West

Saint Louis FC’s playoff hopes in the USL West have continually dwindled as the regular season has wound down. The club now needs to win both of its final regular season games to have any hope of qualifying. Orange County Blues FC currently holds the 8th and final playoff spot in the West with 37 points.  Both of that club’s final regular season games come against teams at the top of the conference in Rio Grande Valley and Colorado Springs.

Last Time Out For Saint Louis FC

Saint Louis FC welcomed Irvin Herrera back from International Duty last weekend in San Antonio and he made his return known in a big way. The striker from El Salvador scored in the 12th, 16th and 54th minute to record a hat trick in the 3-1 win over San Antonio FC with his father in the stands. Herrera was named the USL Player of the Week for his performance.

The goals were the first for Herrera since August 3rd against Swope Park and pushed his season total to 14. Jason Plumhoff recorded assists on each of the three goals and is now tied for the team with three assists in three games played for the club on the season.

 

When @enriquherrera17 wants everyone to know he’s back from international duty pic.twitter.com/hVone0jZZt

— Saint Louis FC (@SaintLouisFC) September 12, 2016

The win was the team’s first since July 23rd at home against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.

While Ryan Thompson also returned to the club last weekend, Mark Pais got the start in goal and played the full 90 minutes, allowing the single goal while facing seven shots.

Who Is Louisville City FC?

Louisville City FC is 16-4-8 on the season. They are second in the USL East with 56 points behind New York Red Bulls II and their 63 points.

Jon Chandler Hoffman leads the club in scoring with 14 goals on the season. Two other players each have five goals on the season. Kyle Smith leads the team with six assists.

Louisville City has won three matches in a row without allowing a goal in that span. With a home playoff match secured and a single game remaining after this contest. Louisville City coach James O’Conner will be looking ahead to the playoffs in terms of the personnel on the field.

Louisville City FC coach talks about upcoming match with Saint Louis FC

Paolo DelPiccolo has been an important part of Louisville City this season, both on and off the field. The midfielder’s playing minutes have varied throughout the season. He’s played in 23 games this season while recording a goal and 5 assists. DelPiccolo is also working on a sports administration degree at the University of Louisville and records internship hours in the club’s front office and laundry room, according the Danielle Lerner of The Courier-Journal.

What To Expect From Saint Louis FC

It’s becoming hard to predict what we’ll see from Saint Louis FC each week. We’ll hope that Herrera’s time away from the team and scoring outburst in his first game back has reinvigorated him before the final two games of the regular season.

No one would blame head coach Tim Leonard is he started the same ten field players as last weekend. That lineup featured Plumhoff and Schillo Tshuma while mainstay Mike Ambersley started the match on the substitutes list.

Parker Maher, Sean Clancy and Chad Vandergriffe are out for STLFC this weekend. Maher and Clancy are both out for the rest of the regular season.

Saint Louis FC and Louisville City FC played a close match last time out despite what the final score seems to suggest.  The game was scoreless in the 77th minute when a questionable offside call on STLFC sent play back to the other end of the field. An unfortunate turnover led to the first goal of the game. The second goal of the game came on a Louisville City penalty kick after Pais was called for a foul at the top of the penalty area.

Tim Leonard’s club will be wearing their third green kit for the match. They officially announced earlier this week that they will retire the largely unpopular navy kit and make the green one the club’s primary home kit moving forward.

 

🗞 The navy kit will be retired following the 2016 season. The green kit will become the primary kit in 2017. pic.twitter.com/rN20uuDqir

— Saint Louis FC (@SaintLouisFC) September 12, 2016

Last week’s win and Herrera’s performance has the St. Louligans hopeful about this week’s match. Listen to the latest episode of This Is Silly! The hosts discuss the Louligans’ tailgate plans for this weekend, the skepticism surrounding the Foundry St. Louis MLS plans, Landon Donovan’s return to MLS and more.

 

In the words of Matt Bird… “It’s Back On!” Listen to the latest podcast as we get our hopes up once again. https://t.co/ac15HLiECP

— St.Louligans (@StLouligans) September 14, 2016

 

Catch The Action Live

A limited amount of tickets remain for this last home match of the regular season for Saint Louis FC. The match is expected to sell out.

The weather forecast calls for cloudy skies and a temperature in the mid-70s with the chance of a thunderstorm.

The team is having a big sale in the Fan Shop for the last match with 25% off apparel and 10% off clearance items, among other deals.

The first 2,000 fans will receive “Green in ’17” sticker to commemorate the team’s jersey change for the 2017 season. Fans are encourage to wear green to the match.

Electro Savings Credit Union is giving away two tickets to Saturday’s game and 2 shirts on Twitter. The company is also sponsoring the match and will be having a fan compete at halftime for a new Enterprise Car Sales car.

The St. Louligans tailgate will begin at 5:30 pm and feature fried turkey, empty cups and funds raised for charity.

Already have your tickets to the match? Ride the free Pub 2 Park shuttle from one of four locations in the St. Louis area. Shuttles leave from Smugala’s Pizza, International Tap House in Soulard and Amsterdam Tavern at 6 pm on Saturday night. The shuttle from Hot Shot’s Fenton leaves at 6:45 pm. Shuttle service is presented by JED Transportation and Country Club Limousine.

Watch the Action On Youtube

Every USL match is streamed live through YouTube. Be part of the virtual action through the USL Match Center.

Saint Louis FC vs Louisville City FC 9-17-16

 

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