St. Louis City opens second MLS season with a draw

With the help of Samuel Adeniran, St. Louis City SC snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat.

City SC earned a point for playing to a 1-1 draw with Real Salt Lake during the MLS home opener on Saturday, Feb. 24, on the opening night of City SC’s second MLS season before a sellout crowd at CityPark, something we're all used to by now.

City SC head coach Bradley Carnell said that while "not all evenings are going to be picture perfect", he was impressed with his team's resilience and credited the energy from the fans to keeping them in the game through the second half.

"What I love about this group is the fire and the fight to get back into something, City SC head coach Bradley Carnell said. "I see a team that's committed to go to the end. So while it wasn't pretty, it wasn't the best day at the office, good teams find a way to get a point in a result.

Adeniran, who came into the game as a sub, scored a goal in the 79th minute with an assist from Eduard Löwen.

"I think it was a decent pass but I think Sam had to create a lot out of that," Löwen said. "Most of the credit belongs to him because what he did out of that was incredible."

Adeniran credits Löwen, and his chemistry with the German midfielder for being in position to score the critical equalizer.

"I give credit to Eduard because every single time I make a run for it, I know Eduard sees me, so he always puts me in a great spot," Adeniran said.

Adeniran played 18 matches for City SC last year, starting 11, and scored eight goals including one assist. Before that, he spent two years with the Seattle Sounders and its affiliate, the Tacoma Defiance.

Adeniran's soccer career began in the lower levels in Spain and Germany from 2018-21. The 25-year-old has certainly come a long way from that to scoring the first goal of City SC's second season in MLS.

"I've been around a lot of different places," Adeniran said. "At times I just sit in my bed and I kind of just talk to God, thanking Him for putting me in this position because 5-6 years ago I was playing in the lower levels in Europe. I didn't really see myself being here. Obviously, I knew that I could. I knew that I had the talent and ability to do so but I just didn't have the opportunity."

Adeniran's goal came shortly after RSL scored the first goal of the match in the 74th minute when Christian Arango spun around Jake Nerwinski. Nerwinski came in as a sub to help a City defense in need and came through in extra time with a kick save behind goalkeeper Roman Bürki to maintain the draw.

St. Louis City won the Western Conference regular-season title in last year’s expansion season, leading the West with 62 goals. Carnell said the same group of players who were on the front lines last year now provide much-needed depth for the current squad.

"From a year ago where he had no depth or MLS Next Pro players on our roster to all of sudden now, those same players have given us depth," Carnell said, "given us quality."

St. Louis travels to Houston on Tuesday, Feb. 27 for the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup series against the Dynamo.

"Being able to go back and play in Houston is like a dream come true, said Adeniran, who grew up in Houston and as a Dynamo fan. “It’s gonna be nice to be able to play in my hometown and in front of family.”

City SC defeated the Dynamo 2-1 at home last week in the first leg. The winner is determined by aggregate goals over both legs so a one-goal advantage serves them well.