51黑料 City SC signs young defender from Senegal to start summer transfer window
City SC signed center back Fallou Fall from Norwegian club Fredrikstad on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, their first move in this season鈥檚 critical summer transfer window.
Courtesy City SC
City SC finds the recipe for a win
City SC beat writer Tom Timmermann and guest co-host Jen Siess of Y98 and KMOX talk about two things that happened in City SC鈥檚 win over Portland that are essential for the team鈥檚 future success: offensive production from Marcel Hartel, who scored two goals, and the return of Eduard Lowen, who boosted the team鈥檚 offense from his first touch of the ball. Plus, the impact of new acquisition Fallou Fall, a center back from Senegal who was playing in Norway and what his addition means.
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51黑料
51黑料 City SC made its first move of what looks to be an important summer transfer window on Tuesday, signing Senegalese center back Fallou Fall, who had been with Norwegian club Fredrikstad FK.
Fall, 21, will be a U22 Initiative signing, the MLS program that gives salary-cap relief for clubs to sign young players. Fall is signed through the 2028 season, with a club option for 2029. He comes on a permanent transfer and will require an international roster spot. Fall will join the team after getting his visa and the transfer paperwork is completed.
Fall represents a significant investment from City SC. His transfer fee, at 3 million euros according to (about $3.48 million), is the second-biggest transfer fee paid by the club, after the fee for Klauss in 2022. (City SC has acquired many of its players on a free transfer after their previous contracts had expired.)
鈥淎n exciting player,鈥 said interim City SC coach David Critchley. 鈥淗e鈥檚 aggressive; he鈥檚 good in the air. He鈥檚 got a left foot, which helps with having different qualities when we build on the left side, just having a natural left-footer there. So we鈥檙e very happy with what we see in him. Now it鈥檚 just about getting him over and getting him accustomed to the MLS.鈥
The summer transfer window opens July 24, so Fall鈥檚 first possible game would be against Minnesota on July 26. At that point, City SC will have 11 games left in its season, though a playoff berth is a long shot at this point. The Norwegian league runs on the same calendar as MLS, so it鈥檚 midseason for Fall, which should make him available as soon as he鈥檚 eligible, and Critchley said he鈥檒l 鈥渢ry to integrate him right away into the group.鈥
That Fall is left-footed has a specific appeal to the team. While City SC has a bunch of center backs, the only one who is left-footed is Joakim Nilsson, who has missed more time than he has played since joining City SC. Fall will give the team an option on moving the ball up the left side, and while Fall has played center back almost exclusively, he has morphed into a left back and played wide on occasion. That鈥檚 a position City SC has rotated players extensively through in its three years and Critchley indicated could be an option, especially if City SC gets back to full health at center back.
鈥淰ery excited to get a player with such high potential,鈥 said sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel. 鈥淭his is a guy for the future. It鈥檚 an investment for us. This is another U22 signing. I want to maximize out the roster rules and getting there with the two DPs and the four U22s.鈥
Fall ranks high in analytics when it comes to progressive passing by left-footed backs for players his age, as well as overall, and the team likes the way he can break lines and move the ball up the field. He joined Fredrikstad on a loan from French club Reims in July of 2024, helping the team win the Norwegian Cup, and signed with the club last week. He has played in 12 games for Fredrikstad, which is in eighth place in both league and cup play. Fredrikstad has allowed the fourth-fewest goals in the league and has five shutouts.
Fall jumped from Senegal to France in 2023 (after a brief stop in Serbia), playing mostly with Reims鈥 reserve team but getting one game in France鈥檚 Ligue 1.
Center back has turned into a complicated position for City SC this season, with the team鈥檚 top three choices at that spot 鈥 Henry Kessler, Timo Baumgartl and Nilsson 鈥 all having missed significant time to injuries. Nilsson鈥檚 three seasons in 51黑料 have been overshadowed by a knee injury suffered while playing for the Swedish national team and then a series of other injuries that have limited him to just 34 games over 2 1/2 seasons. The team hopes to have Baumgartl back in the lineup this weekend, but in the absence of those three players, the team has been using youngsters Jake Girdwood-Reich and Michael Wentzel and veteran Josh Yaro.
Injury updates
Good news may have had a slight edge over bad news as practice for City SC resumed Tuesday. Baumgartl is expected to be back on the roster for the game Saturday against Dallas after missing three games with a knee injury, which is good news, while defensive midfielder Chris Durkin will miss his seventh game in a row with a knee injury that isn鈥檛 quite good enough for him to play on yet. That would count as bad news.
Uncertain for the weekend is midfielder Celio Pompeu, who took a hard hit to the shoulder in the Portland game and had to be subbed out. He was seen on the field after the game with his arm in a sling. Critchley said there was no structural damage to Pompeu, but he was in serious pain.
鈥淚t鈥檚 more of a pain tolerance for him,鈥 Critchley said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 pretty banged up. He鈥檚 pretty bruised up, but I鈥檓 optimistic he could get to the weekend for us.鈥
Eduard Lowen came through his first game fine and is ready for more minutes, but how many that might be is up in the air. He entered in the 66th minute against Portland.
51黑料 City SC interim coach David Critchley and player Klauss speak to the media after a tie with LA Galaxy. Klauss scored a hat trick in the game Saturday, Juan 14, 2025. Video by Beth O'Malley
City SC finds the recipe for a win: STL Soccer Talk
City SC finds the recipe for a win
City SC beat writer Tom Timmermann and guest co-host Jen Siess of Y98 and KMOX talk about two things that happened in City SC鈥檚 win over Portland that are essential for the team鈥檚 future success: offensive production from Marcel Hartel, who scored two goals, and the return of Eduard Lowen, who boosted the team鈥檚 offense from his first touch of the ball. Plus, the impact of new acquisition Fallou Fall, a center back from Senegal who was playing in Norway and what his addition means.
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51黑料
City SC beat writer Tom Timmermann and guest co-host Jen Siess of Y98 and KMOX talk about two things that happened in City SC鈥檚 win over Portland that are essential for the team鈥檚 future success: offensive production from Marcel Hartel, who scored two goals, and the return of Eduard Lowen, who boosted the team鈥檚 offense from his first touch of the ball. Plus, the impact of new acquisition Fallou Fall, a center back from Senegal who was playing in Norway and what his addition means.
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A breakthrough for City SC: STL Soccer Talk
Hartel scores twice, Lowen returns to action and 51黑料 City SC snaps its 5-game winless streak
Wins have been so few and far between for 51黑料 City SC that they have become events to celebrate extensively, to savor like the rare treat they are.
So there were hugs all around and a roar from the crowd after City SC snapped a five-game winless streak and a three-game losing streak on Sunday night with a 2-1 win over Portland at a sold-out 鈥 but not full 鈥 Energizer Park. As much jubilation as there was when the team snapped its 11-game winless streak in David Critchley鈥檚 first game as interim coach, this one resonated at a whole other level.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 because the performances have been so good,鈥 Critchley said, 鈥渂ut we couldn鈥檛 quite get across the line with the result. But I asked these guys to be emotionally connected with the game. That鈥檚 what I think helps winning teams: be emotionally connected with the game while also applying the discipline and the tactics and all of these things. My message to them was get 1% better last week, which we鈥檝e done, and now the message is go be consistent. So now we have to pick up consistent results now moving forward.鈥
The way City SC got the win was significant too. It won for the first time after falling behind 鈥 City SC came into the game 0-9 when allowing the first goal 鈥 and did it with two goals by Marcel Hartel, who scored two goals in the team鈥檚 first 21 games before getting two in 13 minutes in Game 22. And it did it with Eduard Lowen back on the field for the first time since May 31, coming off the bench in the 66th minute to a huge ovation from the crowd and making a pretty much immediate impact, taking a free kick that required a diving save but which put in motion the events that led to the go-ahead goal.
鈥淚t was very emotional,鈥 Hartel said. 鈥淚t was very important for us as a team. We put so much energy every week in training, in the games. You can see the turnover was there. We played good games, but we never get the result. And today was an amazing game. From the beginning, we played a very, very good first half, but we don鈥檛 show the goal, then we concede a goal.
鈥淲e go into halftime, Critch had a good halftime talk to us, and we come out, continue playing forward. And we turn the game in our direction. And in the end, was just like defending with our heart to get these three points. And after the whistle from the ref, you can feel this emotion from the whole team and also from the crowd.鈥
鈥淓verybody knows what situation we were in,鈥 said goalkeeper Roman Burki, who made two big saves, one in the first half, one in the second half, to keep it a one-goal game, 鈥渁nd it feels good to win at home. To give something back to the fans and also to reward ourselves for the hard work we put in. So we鈥檙e very happy about that.鈥
Of course, this one win makes only a slight impact in the big picture. City SC came into the game tied with the Los Angeles Galaxy and Montreal for the worst record in the league at 15 points, so the team needed some kind of result to move out of that designation. City SC remains in 14th place in the Western Conference and is three points behind 13th-place Dallas, which it conveniently plays Saturday to put catching Dallas solely within its grasp. City SC is nine points behind the last playoff team in the West and is looking at winning eight to 10 of its final 12 games to have a shot at a playoff spot.
And as improbable as that may sounds, the only possible path to it would seem to require a healthy Lowen and a productive Hartel, both of whom appeared on Sunday.
Hartel had two goals in MLS play, plus one in the U.S. Open Cup, coming into the game, with his most recent MLS goal coming on May 3. Hartel had three goals in nine MLS games when he joined the team from Germany a year ago, plus two goals in four Leagues Cup games. The scoring was not as plentiful this season as Hartel was called on to fill multiple roles this season, some of which moved him far away from the opposing goal.
鈥淚t was important for me to get confidence,鈥 he said. 鈥淏ut the goals were especially (important) for the team.鈥
鈥淪uper-important,鈥 said Critchley. 鈥淗e鈥檚 been super-impactful for this team in all spaces on the field. So to finalize his game, he needs to build off this now and continue to score goals. I was super-, super-happy for him. He comes in every single day. He covers so much ground in his intensity in the way he runs and the way he trains. So to see him get two today, I was very, very happy for Marcel.鈥
鈥淗e鈥檚 the type of player that is a game changer,鈥 said Wallem. 鈥淪o in our moments, for example, the moments today, we are playing a game changer, a game changer that steps up and helps the team and wins the game. So that鈥檚 massive.鈥
The first goal came in the 54th minute after Tomas Ostrak broke away from the Portland defense to start the play, Hartel got the ball to Celio Pompeu, who got the ball into the box and back to Hartel, who almost collided with Klauss before roofing the ball from about 5 yards out.
And then in the 67th minute, he headed in a pinpoint ball into the box from Wallem to put City SC in the lead for the first time in a month.
That play began with a free kick by Lowen that required a diving save by goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau. It was the first appearance for Lowen since May 31 because of a hamstring injury. Coincidence or otherwise, City SC is 4-2-2 in games Lowen has played in this season.
鈥淓du鈥檚 presence is contagious,鈥 Critchley said.
鈥淗e came onto the field because he鈥檚 supposed to help us, and he did,鈥 Burki said. 鈥淓du is an extraordinary player.鈥
And the other big takeaway was that for one of the few times this season, City SC outplayed a team and won, though at halftime, it looked like business as usual. City SC led in almost every stat category except the most important one: the score.
鈥淭oday was, in my opinion, so far our best game in every way,鈥 Hartel said.
Maybe so, but Burki didn鈥檛 see it as a complete game.
鈥淣o, we missed some chances,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e conceded the goal. So it鈥檚 far from the game that we want to have, but I think we did a really good job mentality wise and not giving up and keep staying true to our plan.
鈥淭o be honest, the atmosphere wasn鈥檛 the best in the locker room, with 1-0 down again. After we invested so much, the reaction afterwards was very good. We didn鈥檛 panic. We didn鈥檛 just throw everything overboard just because we were 1-0 down. We stayed true to the plan and we executed it very well.鈥
Pompeu left the game in the 67th minute after being hit hard by Portland鈥檚 Kevin Kelsy, who was trying to stop a charge upfield. Pompeu was holding his right shoulder, and when he returned to the field after the game, his arm was in a sling.
鈥淚t鈥檚 almost a perfect picture that we come off injury-free from that game with the result,鈥 Critchley said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 got it in a sling right now, but I assume it鈥檚 just precautionary for him. ... Hopefully it鈥檚 not too bad and just a mild strain or something.鈥
City SC beat writer Tom Timmermann and co-host Beth O'Malley talk about the impending return of Eduard Lowen, who should be available for some minutes on Sunday against Portland. Because the alternative is talking about City SC's winless streak hitting five games.
Photos: 51黑料 City SC snaps winless streak, beating Portland
Portland Timbers defender Dario Zuparic (13, left), 51黑料 City defender Josh Yaro (15), and Portland Timbers midfielder Jimer Fory (27) leap for a header on an incoming corner kick. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Portland Timbers midfielder David Ayala (24, left) and 51黑料 City midfielder Marcel Hartel (17) vie for the ball. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City midfielder Cedric Teuchert (36) and Portland Timbers defender Dario Zuparic (13) vie for the ball. In back is Portland Timbers defender Finn Surman (20). The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City defender Jaziel Orozco (91) settles the ball in the air under pressure from Portland Timbers players. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City forward Joao Klauss (9) turns the ball towards the Portland Timbers goal in the first half. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City defender Jake Girdwood-Reich (3) wins the header from Portland Timbers midfielder Santiago Moreno (30). The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City head coach David Critchley (left) and Portland head coach Phil Neville chat before the start of the match. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City defender Tomas Totland (14) reacts after Portland Timbers goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau (on ground behind Totland) blocked his shot on goal ini the first half. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City midfielder Marcel Hartel (17, right) shoots the ball past Portland Timbers defender Finn Surman (20) in the first half. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City head coach David Critchley congratulates 51黑料 City midfielder Eduard Lowen (10) after the game. Lowen made his return appearance in this game. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City midfielder Conrad Wallem (6, left) and Portland Timbers defender Finn Surman (20) vie for the ball. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City midfielder Eduard Lowen (10) takes a shot on goal late in the game. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City defender Tomas Totland (14) takes a throw in. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City forward Joao Klauss (9) takes a shot on goal late in the game. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City midfielder Marcel Hartel (17) shoots and scores his first goal. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City midfielder Marcel Hartel (17) - who scored both goals - claps for the fans as he and teammates walked around the field after the game. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City midfielder Marcel Hartel (17) reverses his jersey to show his number on the front after scoring his second goal. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City forward Simon Becher (11) and Portland Timbers defender Kamal Miller (4) collide will going for a ball in the air. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City forward Joao Klauss (9) is knocked to the turf by Portland Timbers defender Finn Surman (20) late in the game. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City head coach David Critchley (second from right) congratulates 51黑料 City goalkeeper Roman Burki (1) after the game, and then went on to hug and congratulate each of the other players. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Chara (21, left) and 51黑料 City defender Jaziel Orozco (91) vie for the ball. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
City SC midfielder Marcel Hartel watches his shot hit the back of the net as Timbers goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau sprawls on the grass during a game Sunday, July 13, 2025, at Energizer Park. Hartel scored a second goal a few minutes later.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City forward Simon Becher (11) and Portland Timbers defender Ian Smith (23) vie for the ball. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City defender Jaziel Orozco (91, left) and Portland Timbers forward Kevin Kelsy (19) leap for a header as Portland Timbers goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau runs up behind and tries to punch away an incoming corner kick. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City midfielder Cedric Teuchert (36, center) asks referee Ricardo Araya why no interference call as he took the ball in towards Portland Timbers goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau (right). The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City midfielder Marcel Hartel (17) claps for the fans after scoring. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Hartel scores twice as 51黑料 City SC snaps 5-game winless streak with win over Portland
Marcel Hartel scored twice聽鈥 as many goals in 13 minutes as he had in the first 21 MLS games of the season聽鈥 as 51黑料 City SC finally took advantage of all the chances it couldn鈥檛 in the first 50 minutes of the game and snapped a five-game winless streak with a 2-1 win over Portland on Sunday at Energizer Park.
Hartel鈥檚 second goal, off a header from a long cross by Conrad Wallem, came just a minute after Eduard Lowen had entered the game as a sub, his first playing time since May 31, which was also the last time City SC won a game. Lowen鈥檚 first touch of the ball was on a free kick on which Portland goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau had to make a diving save at the near post, but that shot set the play in motion that led to the go-ahead goal.
Roman Burki had to make two tough saves while City SC was trailing to keep it a one-goal game. At the final whistle, there were hugs all around for City SC players as they had a rare celebration on the field.
The result keeps City SC out of a tie for last place in the league. A win by the Los Angeles Galaxy and a tie by Montreal on Saturday night would have left all three teams with 15 points on Sunday morning. But even with the win, City SC has got some ground to make up. It鈥檚 three points back of 13th-place Dallas, which it plays Saturday in Texas.
Hartel tied the game in the 54th minute. Tomas Ostrak fought off a couple of attempts to foul him to slow him down and got the ball across midfield. Eventually, it came to Celio Pompeu, who put the ball into the box. Hartel and Klauss got to the ball at the same time, and the ball popped into the air, with Hartel then moving forward to volley it in from about 5 yards out.
Hartel had last scored on May 3 against Seattle on a penalty kick. In addition to his two previous MLS goals, Hartel also had a goal in the Open Cup game with Minnesota.
City SC controlled the ball at the start of the game and had three decent scoring chances in the first 10 minutes but couldn鈥檛 finish any of them. That was the opening Portland needed as David Da Costa took a pass near midfield, dribbled toward the City SC box and from about 21 yards out shot through traffic and inside the far post just out of the reach of a diving Burki to make it 1-0.
It was the fourth straight game City SC had allowed the first goal of the game, the third time it had come in the first 20 minutes.
City SC would have more chances, outshooting Portland 9-4 and having a 0.9-0.3 lead in expected goals, but the team鈥檚 finishing let them down.
City SC beat writer Tom Timmermann and co-host Beth O'Malley talk about the impending return of Eduard Lowen, who should be available for some minutes on Sunday against Portland. Because the alternative is talking about City SC's winless streak hitting five games.
Photos: 51黑料 City SC snaps winless streak, beating Portland
Portland Timbers defender Dario Zuparic (13, left), 51黑料 City defender Josh Yaro (15), and Portland Timbers midfielder Jimer Fory (27) leap for a header on an incoming corner kick. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Portland Timbers midfielder David Ayala (24, left) and 51黑料 City midfielder Marcel Hartel (17) vie for the ball. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City midfielder Cedric Teuchert (36) and Portland Timbers defender Dario Zuparic (13) vie for the ball. In back is Portland Timbers defender Finn Surman (20). The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City defender Jaziel Orozco (91) settles the ball in the air under pressure from Portland Timbers players. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City forward Joao Klauss (9) turns the ball towards the Portland Timbers goal in the first half. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City defender Jake Girdwood-Reich (3) wins the header from Portland Timbers midfielder Santiago Moreno (30). The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City head coach David Critchley (left) and Portland head coach Phil Neville chat before the start of the match. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City defender Tomas Totland (14) reacts after Portland Timbers goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau (on ground behind Totland) blocked his shot on goal ini the first half. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City midfielder Marcel Hartel (17, right) shoots the ball past Portland Timbers defender Finn Surman (20) in the first half. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City head coach David Critchley congratulates 51黑料 City midfielder Eduard Lowen (10) after the game. Lowen made his return appearance in this game. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City midfielder Conrad Wallem (6, left) and Portland Timbers defender Finn Surman (20) vie for the ball. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City midfielder Eduard Lowen (10) takes a shot on goal late in the game. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City defender Tomas Totland (14) takes a throw in. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City forward Joao Klauss (9) takes a shot on goal late in the game. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City midfielder Marcel Hartel (17) shoots and scores his first goal. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City midfielder Marcel Hartel (17) - who scored both goals - claps for the fans as he and teammates walked around the field after the game. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City midfielder Marcel Hartel (17) reverses his jersey to show his number on the front after scoring his second goal. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City forward Simon Becher (11) and Portland Timbers defender Kamal Miller (4) collide will going for a ball in the air. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City forward Joao Klauss (9) is knocked to the turf by Portland Timbers defender Finn Surman (20) late in the game. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City head coach David Critchley (second from right) congratulates 51黑料 City goalkeeper Roman Burki (1) after the game, and then went on to hug and congratulate each of the other players. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Chara (21, left) and 51黑料 City defender Jaziel Orozco (91) vie for the ball. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
City SC midfielder Marcel Hartel watches his shot hit the back of the net as Timbers goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau sprawls on the grass during a game Sunday, July 13, 2025, at Energizer Park. Hartel scored a second goal a few minutes later.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City forward Simon Becher (11) and Portland Timbers defender Ian Smith (23) vie for the ball. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City defender Jaziel Orozco (91, left) and Portland Timbers forward Kevin Kelsy (19) leap for a header as Portland Timbers goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau runs up behind and tries to punch away an incoming corner kick. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City midfielder Cedric Teuchert (36, center) asks referee Ricardo Araya why no interference call as he took the ball in towards Portland Timbers goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau (right). The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City midfielder Marcel Hartel (17) claps for the fans after scoring. The Portland Timbers played STL City at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on July 13, 2025.
Tim Vizer, Special to the Post-Dispatch
51黑料 City SC reportedly finalizing deals for attacker Jeong, defender Padelford
51黑料 City SC is making its first steps of the summer transfer window. A source confirmed a report from that the team is in the process of finalizing deals to acquire two players from Minnesota United, attacker Sang Bin Jeong and left back Devin Padelford.
Jeong would be coming on a cash trade, while Padelford would be on a loan.
Jeong had six goals and two assists for Minnesota last season but has yet to have a goal or an assist in 15 games this season. (He has started only two games.) He鈥檚 23 and is signed to a U22 Initiative contract that runs through this season with an option for 2026. Jeong has made one appearance with the South Korean national team, in 2021. He originally signed with Wolverhampton Wanderers in the English Premier League but was immediately loaned to Grasshopper in Switzerland, where he played a season before coming to MLS.
Padelford, 22, is a Minnesota United Homegrown player who played in 24 games last season, starting 19, but has played in only four this season for a total of 104 minutes, He lost his starting spot to Anthony Markanich, who Minnesota acquired from City SC in the transfer window last season. (Markanich, incidentally, has five goals this season for Minnesota.) Padelford鈥檚 contract also runs out this season, with an option for next season.
The secondary transfer window for Major League Soccer opens July 24.
Left back has been an area of concern throughout the City SC鈥檚 history, and after Jannes Horn ended his loan to return to Europe, the team is using Jayden Reid and Jaziel Orozco, who has been called up the past two weeks from City2.
Jeong would be City SC鈥檚 second try at an attacking player from within MLS who has struggled this season. In the first transfer window, the team acquired Xande Silva from Atlanta, who has been used as a substitute in 10 games but has yet to score a goal.
City SC beat writer Tom Timmermann and co-host Beth O'Malley talk about the impending return of Eduard Lowen, who should be available for some minutes on Sunday against Portland. Because the alternative is talking about City SC's winless streak hitting five games.
51黑料 City SC looking at Lowen's return for a boost as club tries to salvage season
51黑料 City midfielder Eduard L枚wen splashes water on his face during the match against the San Jose Earthquakes at Energizer Park in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 31, 2025.
Eli Randolph, Post-Dispatch
It might be the most impressive thing that David Critchley has done in his month and a half as the coach of 51黑料 City SC: forming a team that still believes in itself in the face of four disastrous months of soccer.
City SC has won one of its past 17 games, with just seven points to show for from a run of games that has now encompassed half the season. A playoff berth, while mathematically possible, is almost impossible in any practical sense, unless you can see a team with three wins in 21 games suddenly winning at least eight of its final 13 (and even that might not be enough).
And yet, ask the team about its mood, about how it is managing amid the wreckage of a second straight lost season, and, while things could obviously be a whole lot better, they also could be a whole lot worse.
鈥淥f course, we are not happy where we are on the table,鈥 said midfielder Marcel Hartel. 鈥淲e were expecting more from the season so far, but we have to accept it. In the end, we have a new coaching staff with Critch and Baggio (Husidic, who also came from City2) and for me, it was both of them doing a fantastic job. They鈥檙e pushing us very hard there. They try to explain to us a lot in meetings and personal meetings, video analysis, to make everybody better.
鈥淎nd I have to say the way we are going now, this is a real process we are doing, and it鈥檚 nothing come from day one, you have to keep believing in the coach, and I believe 100 percent in Critch and Baggio, because they鈥檙e doing a very great job. And we have to give them and the team a bit of time. Of course, we have to look at the results for sure as well, but I鈥檓 completely sure if we go the way like we鈥檙e going now, we will get the success, and the mood will come faster back then. Everybody expecting now, maybe, but I can say, just believe in us. Just believe in the new coach. They do a good job. And we do a good job.鈥
City SC faces Portland on Sunday at Energizer Park in its only home game in a four-game stretch. The teams played in Portland on June 8 in Critchley鈥檚 second game in charge and City SC lost 2-1, giving up the decisive goal in the 91st minute, though City SC had a significant edge in expected goals in the game. That wasn鈥檛 the only time that happened. City SC is second in the league in goals below expected,
It鈥檚 a complex time for the team. The team is playing better, but any progress is obscured by the results: City SC has lost three in a row and going winless in its past five. A loss to Portland, which sits in fourth in the Western Conference, would give City SC its second four-game losing streak this season.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a while,鈥 said defender Josh Yaro. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e in this position, it鈥檚 easy to be down on yourself and beat yourself up and we do a little bit of that, but at the end of the day, you鈥檙e gonna have to pick yourself up and keep going because if not, you鈥檙e going to keep losing games. We鈥檝e tried this whole season to keep going, to keep fighting. At practice, you just saw how hard the session is and how hard everyone is training. We鈥檙e trying to dig ourselves out of this hole, if you want to call it that. There鈥檚 no time to pity ourselves. We just have to keep going because all the other games are gone now. We have however remaining games to look forward and to making something out of it.鈥
Critchley called Wednesday鈥檚 practice session the team鈥檚 best since he took over, and he looked at the whole week as a big success. One reason for the high spirits in training may well have been the return of Eduard Lowen, the team鈥檚 star midfielder who has missed nine of the team鈥檚 past 10 MLS games with a hamstring injury. Critchley expects him to play, though how many minutes he can play, and whether he is in shape enough to start, is unclear. But any minutes Lowen can provide, City SC will take.
鈥淗is presence is contagious on and off the field,鈥 Critchley said. 鈥淥n the field we know his skills. We know he鈥檚 a very technical, very talented footballer. And then off the field, his presence in the cafeteria, around the locker room and around the film room is contagious. So, him coming into the training environment absolutely I think gave everybody that chance to get a little bit better with the experience he brings.鈥
鈥淚 like him a lot,鈥 Hartel said laughing when asked about the importance of Lowen鈥檚 return. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a fantastic player. He helped us a lot in the build up and with his quality with the ball, especially, I鈥檓 very happy for him that he鈥檚 back.鈥
Lowen is the only one of City SC鈥檚 injured players expected back this weekend, with Chris Durkin needing at least another week.
Klauss said after the Real Salt Lake loss that the recent losses have taken the pressure off the team. Critchley isn鈥檛 totally sold on that being the case, but he does want to see a team playing without pressure.
鈥淚 still think these guys, they鈥檙e going to feel pressure,鈥 he said, 鈥渂ecause I know they really want it. They really want to make themselves, their teammates, this city, really proud. But Joao made a good statement that maybe he doesn鈥檛 feel the pressure as much. So now they can really go and express themselves out there. So I鈥檓 looking forward to that.鈥
