St. Louis City’s interim coach, David Critchley, remains confident in addressing the team’s defensive struggles despite recent losses. The team faces FC Dallas as they aim to improve their form, with Critchley emphasizing the importance of balance and breaking bad habits. Eduard Lowen is highlighted as a key player for St. Louis, while Logan Farrington is one to watch for FC Dallas. The match prediction leans towards a draw, considering both teams’ recent performances and historical data.
St. Louis City is grappling with a defensive crisis, having conceded three goals in each of their last three MLS matches, all resulting in losses. Interim head coach David Critchley remains optimistic about turning the tide but acknowledges that an immediate fix is unrealistic. As they prepare to face FC Dallas, the team is focused on addressing these defensive frailties to salvage what they can from their remaining MLS campaign. Playoff aspirations are virtually extinguished, with St. Louis languishing in 14th place in the Western Conference, a daunting 14 points adrift of the San Jose Earthquakes, who currently hold the last playoff spot.
Critchley emphasized the importance of balance, stating, "I’ve spoken about the word balance quite a lot. That is massively important." He recognizes the team's offensive capabilities but stresses the need to mitigate their defensive vulnerabilities. "We know we can create goals, we can score and create a lot of chances, but we also have to be mindful that we are conceding goals," he added.
The coach is implementing a strategy focused on breaking bad habits and instilling new, more effective ones. "Right now, one of the objectives is to break bad habits that some of the guys might have had throughout the season. Not just break bad habits but develop new habits as well. So that is something that just takes time," Critchley explained. He cautioned against expecting overnight transformations, noting that meaningful change requires consistent effort and time. "You can’t make a fix in a couple of weeks. I will give the guys credit, they are applying themselves every day against the ball."
In the quest for improvement, Critchley aims to refine both offensive and defensive aspects of the game. "We just keep going every single week. We have to create more chances, then we have to limit the opponents," he asserted. The upcoming match against FC Dallas presents an opportunity for St. Louis City to demonstrate their progress.
On the other side, FC Dallas is also vying for a playoff berth, currently positioned 12th in the Western Conference, five points shy of the playoff zone, with two games in hand over the Earthquakes. Dallas has shown resilience in their recent fixtures, drawing their last two matches against formidable opponents like Los Angeles FC and Austin FC, following a 2-0 victory over the Portland Timbers.
Players to Watch:
St. Louis City – Eduard Lowen: Lowen has been a standout performer for St. Louis, consistently finding the net. He has scored in each of their last two games and provided an assist in their recent win against Nashville SC. This marks the first time this season that Lowen has scored in consecutive matches. Historically, scoring in three straight games is a rare feat for St. Louis players, with Lowen achieving it himself in May-June 2023.
FC Dallas – Logan Farrington: Farrington has proven to be a reliable goal-scorer for Dallas, netting his fifth goal of the season in their last match. He has also contributed two assists. Notably, Farrington is among a select group of MLS players who have scored at least five goals with 10 or fewer shots on target, alongside Minnesota United’s Anthony Markanich and St. Louis City’s Eduard Lowen.
Match Prediction: Draw
St. Louis's recent matches have been characterized by high-scoring losses, with each of their last three ending in a 3-2 scoreline. Historically, no team in the post-shootout era has lost four straight MLS matches while scoring multiple goals. Dallas, on the other hand, has a solid record on the road, with four of their seven MLS wins this season occurring in away matches. Their average of 1.4 points per road match in 2025 is poised to be the highest in club history, surpassing their previous best of 1.3 in 2007 and 2010.
Historically, Dallas has dominated their encounters with St. Louis, suffering only one loss in five regular-season meetings (W3 D1), and maintaining three consecutive clean sheets. Their longest league shutout streak against a single opponent is four games, achieved against the New England Revolution (2012-2015) and Orlando City (2015-18).
In their last six league matches, St. Louis has struggled, winning only once and losing five times. Dallas has fared better, with two wins, three draws, and one loss in their last six matches. Given these factors, a draw seems like a probable outcome.
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— St Louis CITY SC (@stlCITYsc) September 4, 2025
Opta Win Probability:
- St. Louis City – 40.1%
- Draw – 26.6%
- FC Dallas – 33.3%