Four goals and 65% possession carry St. Louis City past Minnesota

St. Louis City turn early deficit into 4-2 win

St. Louis City defeated Minnesota United FC 4-2 at CITYPARK in Major League Soccer’s Regular Season - 25, completing a decisive turnaround after conceding inside the opening five minutes. Minnesota took the lead through Tomás Chancalay, who finished a move assisted by Joaquín Pereyra in the 5th minute. St. Louis responded with four goals before Minnesota reduced the deficit from the penalty spot.

Three first-half goals change the contest

Daniel Edelman levelled in the 18th minute, giving St. Louis an immediate foothold after the visitors’ fast start. Carlo Holse then put the home side ahead four minutes later, with Conrad Wallem providing the assist. Holse turned provider in the 38th minute, setting up Rafael Navarro Leal for St. Louis City’s third goal before the interval.

Navarro Leal added his second in the 57th minute from a penalty, extending the advantage to three goals. Minnesota answered four minutes later when Kelvin Yeboah converted a penalty, but the visitors could not produce another goal. Their task became more difficult in the 80th minute when Kyle Duncan received a red card after having already been booked in the 64th. Michael Boxall was also shown a yellow card in the 47th minute.

St. Louis control possession and chances

The statistics support St. Louis City’s control of the match. They held 65% possession and completed 531 accurate passes from 590 total, compared with Minnesota’s 253 accurate passes from 318. St. Louis also led total shots 14-10 and put eight attempts on goal, while Minnesota managed three. The home side recorded 10 shots inside the box, four outside it and four blocked attempts. Minnesota had eight shots inside the box and two outside, but seven of its attempts missed the target.

The numbers also show that Minnesota still created opportunities despite spending less time with the ball. Both teams earned several set-piece chances, with St. Louis taking 15 free kicks and six corners, while Minnesota had 13 free kicks and five corners. St. Louis goalkeeper saves numbered one, compared with four for Minnesota’s goalkeeper.

Navarro leads the individual performances

Holse was the highest-rated player at 8.5 after contributing one goal and one assist in 59 minutes, along with two shots on target and two key passes. Navarro was close behind with an 8.2 rating. He played all 90 minutes, scored twice, registered two shots on target and made three tackles. Wallem also supplied one assist and three key passes.

The victory adds three points to St. Louis City’s Western Conference campaign. The supplied table lists them sixth with 38 points from 24 matches, while Minnesota is 11th with 29 points. After this result, St. Louis reaches 41 points from 25 games; Minnesota remains on 29. The win strengthens St. Louis’s recent sequence, while Minnesota follows a defeat after its listed run of mixed results.