St Louis CITY2 Dominates Season Opener with 3-0 Shutout Victory

North Texas SC’s 2025 MLS NEXT Pro campaign began on a disappointing note as the reigning champions suffered a 3-0 defeat at home against fellow 2024 Western Conference finalists, St. Louis CITY2. The match, played at Choctaw Stadium, saw the visitors impose their high-intensity style from the outset, taking full control of the game early on and never looking back.

A Challenging Start for the Defending Champions

North Texas SC entered the match with high expectations, fielding a 4-3-3 formation featuring new additions Sam Sarver and Gianluca Cangiano up front. They also welcomed back key players such as MLS NEXT Pro’s 2024 Goalkeeper of the Year, Michael Collodi, alongside Diego Garcia, Tarik Scott, and Anthony Ramirez. St. Louis, meanwhile, introduced a fresh tactical approach under new head coach David Critchley, deploying a 4-2-3-1 setup in contrast to their previous 4-4-2 system.

The match began in disastrous fashion for North Texas, as they conceded an own goal just two minutes in. A sequence of defensive missteps saw Ian Charles unintentionally redirect the ball past an out-of-position Collodi, gifting CITY2 an early lead. This setback set the tone for what would be a frustrating evening for the home side.

St. Louis Dictates the Tempo

St. Louis CITY2’s high-pressing approach continued to unsettle North Texas throughout the first half. The visitors doubled their advantage in the 30th minute when Ryan Becher played a pinpoint pass to Brendan McSorley, who expertly curled a shot from the edge of the box into the bottom right corner. The defensive struggles for North Texas were compounded just before halftime when Miguel Perez capitalized on a chaotic sequence inside the box, slotting home his first-ever MLS NEXT Pro goal and extending CITY2’s lead to 3-0.

North Texas found it difficult to break through St. Louis’ disciplined defensive structure. Their best chance of the half came in stoppage time when Scott maneuvered down the left flank and delivered a cross to Cangiano, whose header was comfortably saved by the St. Louis goalkeeper.

Second-Half Efforts Fall Short

The home side showed greater urgency after the break, with Sarver leading the charge in the attacking third. An early yellow card on a St. Louis player in the 46th minute gave North Texas a promising free-kick opportunity, but Garcia’s delivery was headed over the bar by Cangiano.

Collodi was called into action to prevent further damage, making an important save in the 60th minute with a well-timed deflection. Head coach John Gall made his first substitutions shortly thereafter, introducing Daniel Baran and Jaidyn Contreras in an attempt to inject fresh energy into the attack. The changes nearly paid off, as Contreras came close in the 72nd minute with a shot that sailed just over the bar, followed moments later by a thunderous Baran strike that rattled the crossbar.

Despite finding more attacking rhythm in the latter stages, North Texas failed to convert their opportunities. A set-piece chance in the 81st minute saw Sarver’s well-struck free-kick narrowly miss the target, and an 86th-minute sequence between Contreras and Scott ended in a tame shot easily collected by the St. Louis keeper.

Key Performers for North Texas SC

Despite the scoreline, a few North Texas players stood out with commendable performances.

• Sam Sarver: The captain and former Indiana Hoosier was the brightest spark in the attack, consistently creating opportunities down the right flank. Drafted 41st overall by FC Dallas in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, Sarver demonstrated his ability to drive play forward and beat defenders one-on-one.
• Jaidyn Contreras: Making an impact off the bench, Contreras injected much-needed dynamism into the attack. His pressing forced turnovers in the final third, leading to multiple scoring chances that, unfortunately, went unfinished.

Looking Ahead

This defeat marks North Texas SC’s first-ever loss in a regular-season opener since joining MLS NEXT Pro in 2022. The defending champions will need to regroup quickly as they prepare to host Whitecaps FC 2 on March 14th at 7:30 p.m.

For St. Louis CITY2, this dominant performance sets a strong foundation for their 2025 campaign. Their balanced approach, blending aggressive pressing with defensive solidity, makes them a team to watch as the season progresses.

As North Texas SC moves forward, addressing defensive vulnerabilities and improving finishing in the attacking third will be key priorities. While the opening loss stings, glimpses of last season’s title-winning quality remain evident. The challenge now lies in harnessing that potential to get their season back on track.

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