In front of a home crowd at Allianz Field, Minnesota United made a commanding statement Saturday night with a 3-0 win over a struggling St. Louis City SC side. The result pushed St. Louis' winless streak in MLS play to 10 games, a dismal run that dates back to their narrow 1-0 victory over Seattle on March 15. During that stretch, City has managed only two draws and been shut out in seven of those ten matches — a worrying trend for a team that once looked like a rising force in the league.
The rematch arrives quickly: the two sides will meet again in St. Paul on Wednesday for a U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 clash. For St. Louis, it's a chance at redemption, having reached this stage with a May 7 win over Union Omaha, a USL League One team.
A Familiar Collapse
St. Louis City midfielder Marcel Hartel spoke with visible frustration post-match, acknowledging the internal conversations already underway to course-correct.
“We were honest with each other,” Hartel said. “We have to fight to get out of this situation because nobody — fans, staff, or players — is happy.”
Hartel noted that consistent focus across 90 minutes remains elusive. “It was not enough from everybody,” he said, bluntly. “The first half was not good. The second half was not enough.”
Unfortunately for City, Saturday was another night when both performance and morale took hits.
Minnesota Finds Its Rhythm
Before the match, Allianz Field held a moment of silence to honor victims of tornadoes that struck the St. Louis area on Friday — a somber pause before Minnesota took complete control of the evening.
Tani Oluwaseyi and Joaquín Pereyra both tallied a goal and assist, showcasing Minnesota United’s movement off the ball and clinical finishing. Goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair made four saves en route to his seventh clean sheet of the season, anchoring a Loons defense that has become one of the most disciplined in the league.
Oluwaseyi opened the scoring in the 33rd minute with an audacious back-heel finish from close range, thanks to a perfectly timed assist from Nicolás Romero off a Pereyra corner. It was his sixth goal of the season — a stat that continues to elevate his profile within the club and around the league.
Minnesota's second goal came in the 62nd minute, with Oluwaseyi again involved. He laid the ball off to Pereyra near the top of the box, who finished with a precise one-touch strike. Julian Gressel, a veteran with championship pedigree, entered in the 76th minute and netted his first goal for Minnesota just two minutes later, redirecting a Pereyra cross at the back post.
Gressel, waived by Inter Miami just weeks ago, showed his enduring quality with a composed finish and immediate impact — a depth addition that could prove crucial as the season grinds on.
STL City’s Tactical Disarray
For St. Louis, the same issues persist. Coach Olof Mellberg acknowledged his side’s failure to manage Minnesota’s style, particularly their slow buildup and set-piece threats.
“We knew what to expect… but they do it well,” Mellberg said. “We couldn’t handle that well enough today.”
Late-game lapses continue to haunt City, who’ve conceded repeatedly in the final third of matches this season. Defensive chemistry remains elusive, partly due to injuries and rotational changes. Mellberg pointed to the lack of consistency across the backline and midfield as a key reason the team’s once-solid defensive structure has unraveled.
In fairness, Saturday saw the return of several players. Jake Girdwood-Reich made his first start of the season. Chris Durkin returned from an MCL injury after being sidelined since March 30, and Rasmus Alm appeared for the first time this year. Still, despite reinforcements, cohesion remains out of reach.
Goalkeeper Roman Bürki, making just his second appearance since recovering from a hand fracture sustained in March, made four saves — a respectable performance that couldn’t offset the breakdowns in front of him.
The Road Ahead
St. Louis City's tailspin raises pressing questions about identity, chemistry, and urgency. While a quick turnaround for Wednesday's U.S. Open Cup match offers a shot at redemption, it also puts the squad under even more scrutiny. The match isn’t just about advancing in the tournament — it’s about restoring belief in a locker room that desperately needs it.
Meanwhile, Minnesota United continue their quietly efficient campaign, now at 7-3-4, anchored by a defense that doesn’t concede often and an attacking unit that appears to be growing in confidence and cohesion.
With performances like Saturday’s, the Loons look like serious contenders in both league and cup play — and a reminder that even in a parity-driven league like MLS, consistency remains the ultimate competitive edge.
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