St. Louis CITY SC fell 3-2 in a tight match to San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night at Energizer Park. In the first half, CITY SC outshot San Jose 13 to four, but went into the second half down 1-0 after San Jose’s Preston Judd found the back of the net in the eighth minute. St. Louis retaliated with back-to-back goals in the 52nd and 53rd minute from Sergio Córdova and Marcel Hartel. Córdova scored his first goal for CITY SC, while Hartel scored his third of the season. Despite outshooting San Jose again in the second half eight to five, Timo Werner netted two more goals for the Earthquakes converting from the penalty spot in the 69th minute and scoring in the 83rd minute.
St. Louis travels to play Chicago Fire for the Round of 16 of the U.S. Open Cup at SeatGeek Stadium on Wednesday, April 29 at 7:00 p.m. CT. CITY SC will travel to Q2 Stadium to play Austin FC in Sunday Night Soccer on May 3 with kickoff set for 4:30 p.m. CT.
Postgame Notes
- Sergio Córdova scored his first goal with CITY SC and his first in MLS play in 2026
- Marcel Hartel notched his team leading third goal of the season
- Hartel also registered his first assist of 2026
- Simon Becher tallied his second assist of the season
April 25, 2026 – Energizer Park (St. Louis, MO)
Goal-Scoring Plays
SJ: Preston Judd (Nick Fernandez, Timo Werner), 8th minute – Preston Judd scored with a right footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom right corner.
STl: Sergio Córdova (Marcel Hartel), 52nd minute – Sergio Córdova scored with a left footed shot from the top of the six-yard box to the top left corner.
STL: Marcel Hartel (Simon Becher), 53rd minute – Marcel Hartel scored with a right footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom right corner.
SJ: Timo Werner (penalty kick), 69th minute – Timo Werner scored with a right footed shot from the penalty spot to the upper left corner.
SJ: Timo Werner (Ousseni Bouda), 83rd minute – Timo Werner scored with a right footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom center.
Scoring Summary
SJ: Preston Judd (Nick Fernandez, Timo Werner), 8’
STL: Sergio Córdova (Marcel Hartel, Chris Durkin), 52’
STL: Marcel Hartel (Simon Becher), 53’
SJ: Timo Werner (penalty kick), 69’
SJ: Timo Werner (Ousseni Bouda), 83’
Misconduct Summary
SJ: Preston Judd, (caution), 59’
SJ: Daniel, (caution), 75’
STL: Chris Durkin, (caution), 84’
SJ: Jamar Ricketts (caution), 84’
STL: Dante Polvara (caution), 90’+4
Lineups
STL: GK Roman Bürki ©; D Lukas MacNaughton, D Timo Baumgartl, D Dante Polvara; M Conrad Wallem, M Chris Durkin, M Daniel Edelman (Eduard Löwen, 85’), M Sergio Córdova (Brendan McSorley, 76’), M Marcel Hartel, M Tomas Totland (Rafael Santos, 85’); F Simon Becher (Cedric Teuchert, 81’)
Substitutes not used: GK Ben Lundt, D Mbacke Fall, D Fallou Fall, M Miguel Perez, F Mykhi Joyner
TOTAL SHOTS: 17; SHOTS ON GOAL: 5; FOULS: 12; OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 10; SAVES: 0
SJ: GK Earl Edwards Jr. (Daniel, 24’); D Dave Romney, D Daniel Munie, D Jack Jasinski, D Max Floriani (Jamar Ricketts, 70’); M Ian Harkes, M Nick Fernandez (Ousseni Bouda, 61’), M Jonathan Gonzalez (M Ronaldo Vieira, 46’), M Timo Werner ©, M Jack Skahan (M Niko Tsakiris, 46’); F Preston Judd
Substitutes not used: D Paul Marie, D Reid Roberts, M Noel Buck, M Beau Leroux
TOTAL SHOTS: 10; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; FOULS: 14; OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 3
Referee: Drew Fischer
Assistant Referees: Michael Barwegen, Lyes Arfa, Joe Surgan
VAR: Daniel Radford
AVAR: Rhett Hammil
Venue: Energizer Park
Weather: Sunny, 70 degrees
Postgame Audio: Postgame Recording
Postgame Video: Footage (Passcode: mY@0$01%)
Head Coach Yoann Damet
Against a team like San Jose, you cannot afford to let those chances to not used in the first half when you have really good chance for goals —
Yeah, we can speak of both things. We can speak about those chances but also the key moments we need to take care of defensively. You know, right now, my message is that we need to clean things up on both side of the pitch, defensively and offensively. We had some big chances, but at the same time there was a couple key moments again we need to do better. That’s maybe making fouls; that’s maybe not making fouls in the box. Those are the moments we are talking about.
So, again, we piece together some very good things, but like those key moments are what’s hurting us tonight.
Some of those, their goalie made some good saves, it looks like, but again, is it just the need to be more clinical in those moments when you have those?
Yeah, we need to take our chances, like, of course. But again, like I said, it goes both ways. We scored twice tonight. We conceded three times. So, like, it goes both ways.
Like I’m looking at things on two different sides. Like we all have to reflect, there is not like a matter of course, like of course we want to score more goals, of course, tonight. We had the opportunity to score like two or three more goals.
But at the same time, I think their opportunity comes from like our mistakes from things that we should do better. You know, the first goal is like a duel in the air, the second one is a penalty, and the third one is like a quick break where there is a cross from outside the box.
So yeah, trying to take all those things, and to come back and be better.
Are these last two games, not counting the Tulsa game, but the Seattle game and this one, is it a setback in any way?
I don’t think so. I don’t think so. Again, I’m showing up tonight, like very disappointed, like we all are in the locker room. But also very energized. Very energized. Very proud of the way the guys played. And yeah, like with a lot of belief in terms of like what we’re doing.
So of course it’s disappointing. We are to play and to win. We are here to get results. But at the same time, like I’ve got the same energy than at day one. You know, I don’t see that as a setback. I see that as part of the journey we are on. We are competing. We are creating great chances. We are putting together, again, a very good performance tonight. And it’s just missing the final piece but it’s going to come.
All the goals scored, seemed like most of their dangerous opportunities came from working the ball on the strong side and hitting on the weak side. Was there something you were seeing in the moment that, as you looked back, could have been done in-match or a very good player having space to operate in?
Again, very, very hard to say because twice the ball comes where we are unbalanced and we are running towards our goal. So the first one and the last one, if you are referring to that, I need to rewatch.
But I just think, again, the way we try to be proactive with the ball and without it, you accept that you are taking some risk. And again those kind of players and also the level of quality they have got and half a chance can be in the back of the net.
So we have to play with risk and reward in the way we want to play with the ball and also in the way we want to defend. We accept that. I think it makes our strength in terms of how we are able to manipulate the opposition and attack, but also how we are able to win the ball back higher up the pitch.
And in those moments, of course you see the quality of a guy like that tonight. But again, I think there is key moments in those plays that we can sort out before the goals get there, you know.
And speaking of that, Sergio [Córdova] gets his first goal, kind of on a play where you win the ball. Seeing him in the position tonight, is that what you’re looking for and what you’ve been hoping to see out of him the past couple weeks?
Of course, great, he gets the reward tonight. Like again, it’s a good movement. We press higher off the pitch with one foot. We spoke about that. I keep saying the same thing. We try to be — like we try to be dangerous, like on set pieces, on attacking transition and in open play.
And at that moment, like on that play, I think the way we recovered the ball and finding him like in those situations, is great. I’m happy that he’s able to get his first goal for us, and hopefully there is more to come for him.
And Eduard Löwen make his return to Energizer Park, stepping in for Daniel Edelman, is that trying to get him on the field over those closing moments? Obviously that’s different from the position you saw him in last week?
But again, like when you have to go down 3-2, you have to go in. So we tried to have a push like in the last ten, fifteen minutes of the game with the extra time, and that’s the reason why he came on pitch. Like he brings, also, a lot of quality. So I think it’s great to see him back. It’s great to have him come in like in those moments where he can also make a difference and give him like a feeling of like what it’s like to be back like in and around the team.
So, like, again, I’d much rather put him in conditions that are better than that than us chasing to score. But at the moment, like that’s the situation we are in. And hopefully there is more to come for him in the coming weeks.
Along those lines, for you what was it like to watch the fans cheer for Löwen, the flag with his wife’s name, and the feeling of almost like a big hug for him?
Yeah, it’s amazing. Like you see the support of the fans. I think that’s probably the loudest I’ve heard the stadium this year.
Yeah, it means a lot for him. Like I’m sure like he’d be in a better position that be me to answer that question. But I think it shows the support of the community, and it speaks to the person he is, as simple as that. Like I’ve mentioned that many times, but he’s a great human being, and I think he’s touched a lot of people like in and around the team. I think this is just the testament to that, and it’s great to see.
It must have been a pretty strong message at the half. What did you tell the squad at the half?
Yeah, I don’t think it was like that strong of a message. It’s like, it’s hard to come back at halftime at 1-0 down and like you’re in control of the game, you’re creating chances; you’re on the front foot. You’re not allowing too many opportunities to the opposition. We just have to keep going.
And then it’s a couple of adjustments here and there in terms of not getting exposed in the way we want to attack and keeping like a balance that allows us to win the goal back.
It’s more the credit goes to the guys. You know, like coming back from halftime believing, Hey, we are going to turn this game, and they did, like in five minutes, with those two goals, like back-to-back.
So again, it’s more a matter of like the belief that they need to have in themselves and in the team and sticking to the plan, as simple as that.
I thought, again, the execution in the first half was very good. I thought like the way we came out, like for the first half was probably as good as it gets this year. You know, like apart from that goal.
So when you go back at halftime, that’s why I was back on the bench five minutes before the whistle because there is not too much to say. We have to keep believing, we have to think that we’re going to come out in the second half and we’re going to turn this game over. And credit to the guys; they did.
Now it’s a matter of like taking care of those key moments to once you go head and like you’re leading 2-1, like you close the game by keep playing like the way we want to play, by keep defending the way we want to defend, but limiting like those little mistakes here and there.
Did you think Córdova was fouled before their first goal?
It’s tough to say. Every weekend, there’s things. One time it’s yes; one time it’s no. It is what it is. We have to be stronger in those moments.
I’m more disappointed and frustrated with the foul in the second half that gets, like, called like very quickly, where I think their defender slips, and we’re going to goal with Sergio. Like this is more my question. I haven’t watched it. Maybe I’m wrong.
But, like, again, like let the play go and then there is VAR. There is a reason there is VAR. Because then in the moment, maybe we don’t see everything, you know. And maybe I saw a lot of guys tonight, like that couldn’t stand up like on the pitch that were slipping on the pitch. So is it that situation in that moment? Like do we need to let the play go and then reassess, was it a foul, was it not?
This is more my frustration tonight because I think this is moments where we can make the game 3-1, and then it’s a different game.
So again, it’s just a matter of consistency and understanding like those scenarios.
And the same way last week, we had like two block on the first two goals in Seattle at the back post. Nobody called them, and then in the second half, Lucas MacNaughton makes a block that gets called for a foul. I’m asking where the consistency is in these moments and it just needs to be explained, that’s it.
I’m not even calling anybody out. I just need to be explained because that’s what we are looking in those moments.
Is that why you got a yellow card?
It’s just an accumulation of things. Again, the keeper get the yellow and during the extra time, takes. Again, the time and the time and the time; like I’ve never seen a referee gives a red card for like to a goalkeeper because he’s wasting time. After the first yellow in general, there is nothing happening. That was my point to the line, again, when emotions are running high.
Midfielder Marcel Hartel
On their chances in the first half:
We played one of the best halves this season. We had a lot of chances. We played a very good game in general. But yeah, we just don’t score a goal. Yeah, we have to get better to finish this situation, to get a better result. I mean, especially the first time we got a lot of opportunities that hit the crossbar. We had very good chances to get a tie. And yeah, we have to get better.
On their start to the second half:
Yeah. I mean, also the second half, we played very well. We come out with a lot of energy. We scored two goals very quickly, and the momentum was on our side, and yeah, then we concede two goals, which is very, very sad, because we put a lot of energies today in the game. In the end, we were the better team, we were a dominant team. We had very good opportunities to take it over and get three points, but unfortunately, we stay here again with zero points.
On his goal:
Yeah, we pressed very good this season. So I won the ball. He saw, saw me in the box, he played me the ball, and then it’s just, yeah. We also tried in the first half to score a goal, and this time it worked out, and we get the lead, and afterwards, we just have to do better to take the result home.
Forward Sergio Córdova (through a translator)
On the opportunities during the first half:
Sergio is saying that we really deserved the three points today. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get it done, but the team worked really hard to get there. Sometimes it’s not just about how we play, but actually putting the ball in the back of the net. But, the team is working hard every day to get to where we need to be. Obviously, he’s happy with the goal, but it’s frustrating to not get the result.
On his first goal with the club:
He said it’s a breath of fresh air for him, it’s a relief for him to score his first goal. Personally, it’s been tough for him. He’s here alone in a new country, so it’s been difficult in that aspect. He knows the quality that he has. He has the belief in himself. He’s very aware that he can perform at the top level. So he’s very happy with the goal. But again, it’s not about him, not about the goal, it’s about getting the three points. So he’s working towards getting there.
On adjusting to his new position:
He considers himself a very versatile player. He’s not unfamiliar with that position. He played there when he was playing in Turkey. He used to play in that position, so he’s not unfamiliar with it. But it’s all about adjusting to what the coach wants for me. I try to do my best anywhere they put me, but it’s not a position that I don’t know. I played there in Turkey a year and a half ago, so it’s something that I’m used to already.
