Sports Mole previews Thursday's Major League Soccer clash between St Louis City and Los Angeles FC, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Los Angeles FC will be seeking to pick up their first away win of the new MLS campaign when they go head to head with St Louis City at Citypark on Wednesday.
The Miami outfit head into the midweek clash unbeaten in each of their seven home games across all competitions this term and will look to extend this impressive run.
Match preview
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St Louis City maintained their unbeaten home run this season as they secured a comfortable 3-1 victory over Chicago Fire when the sides squared off at Citypark last Sunday.
Hugo Cuypers hit the target one minute into the second half to cancel out Rasmus Alm's early opener and restored parity but Joao Klauss struck twice in an 11-minute spell to hand the home side all three points.
St Louis have now gone unbeaten in each of their seven home matches this term, claiming four wins and three draws, and have lost just one of their opening 11 MLS matches, picking up seven wins and three draws so far.
Bradley Carnell's men have picked 16 points from the first 33 available and currently sit ninth in the Western Conference table, level on points with eighth-placed Austin but could move into fourth place with all three points on Wednesday.
St Louis will be backing themselves to secure a third home win on the spin as they take on an opposing side who are yet to taste victory away from home in the league this season, losing four and claiming one draw in their first five away games.
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Los Angeles FC, on the other hand, made it three consecutive victories against Vancouver Whitecaps as they cruised to a 3-0 victory when the two sides squared off at the BMO Stadium on Sunday.
Uruguayan striker Cristian Olivera continued his fine form in front of goal, netting a first-half brace to put the hosts two goals up before Mateusz Bogusz struck in the 57th minute to cap off a fine team display.
Prior to that, Los Angeles FC booked their spot in the round-of-16 of the US Open Cup on May 5, when they secured a 3-1 victory over USL Championship side Las Vegas Lights courtesy of a second-half brace from Olivera and Kei Kamara's 47th-minute strike.
With Sunday's win, Steven Cherundolo's men are now unbeaten in five of their six MLS games since the start of April — claiming three wins and two draws — with a 3-1 loss at San Jose Earthquakes on May 5 being the exception.
With 18 points from 12 matches, Los Angeles FC are currently fifth in the Western Conference standings, four points off first-placed Real Salt Lake and level on points with both Colorado Rapids and Vancouver Whitecaps.
St Louis City Major League Soccer form:
- L
- D
- W
- D
- D
- W
Los Angeles FC Major League Soccer form:
- W
- D
- D
- W
- L
- W
Team News
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The home side will take to the pitch without the services of defender Joshua Yaro, who has been out of action since coming off injured against FC Dallas on April 7.
He is joined on the club's injury table by German midfielder Eduard Lowen, who has missed each of the last eight matches after suffering a hamstring problem back in March.
With his brace against Chicago Fire, Klauss now has six goal involvements in his last seven matches and we expect the Brazilian striker to spearhead the St Louis attack once again.
Denis Bouanga was involved in each of Los Angeles' three goals against the Whitecaps at the weekend and the 29-year-old, who has six goals and five assists already this season, will be one to keep an eye on.
On the injury front, Cherundolo will be unable to name the midfield duo of David Martinez and Lorenzo Dellavalle, who are currently recuperating from back and knee injuries respectively.
Veteran defender Ryan Hollingshead has missed each of Los Angeles' last two games due to a head injury and the 33-year-old is also a major doubt for Wednesday's game.
St Louis City possible starting lineup:
Burki; Totland, Parker, Hiebert, Markanich; Durkin, Ostrak; Alm, Vassilev, Pompeu; Klauss
Los Angeles FC possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Palencia, Chanot, Long, Campos; Tillman, Kamara, Atuesta; Olivera, Bogusz, Bouanga
We say: St Louis City 2-1 Los Angeles FC
St Louis City have enjoyed a solid start to the season and will fancy their chances on Wednesday as they take on a Los Angeles side whose form on the road is currently nothing to write home about. That said, we predict a cagey affair at Citypark, with St Louis claiming a narrow victory in front of their home supporters.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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