New England Revolution Ne vs St. Louis City Sc Stl Picks and Predictions September 7th 2024

Revolution Look to Keep St. Louis Winless on the Road in Must-Win Matchup

St. Louis City SC, fresh off some midseason signings, is heading to Foxborough, Massachusetts, to face the New England Revolution this Saturday. Both teams are desperately trying to keep their playoff hopes alive, but for St. Louis, there’s some extra pressure—they still haven’t won a game on the road all season.

St. Louis’ Road Woes and Recent Spark

St. Louis City SC (5-10-12, 27 points) has started to show signs of life recently, going unbeaten in their last three matches (1-0-2), including a big 2-1 upset over the Western Conference leaders, LA Galaxy. Summer additions Cedric Teuchert and Marcel Hartel have been instant game-changers. Teuchert’s already notched two goals and an assist in his first three matches, while Hartel’s added a goal and two assists in just two games.

With their attack finally clicking, St. Louis has some hope for a late playoff push. But their biggest challenge remains their brutal away record—they’re winless on the road with a rough 0-6-7 record, making them the only MLS team yet to snag an away victory. Interim coach John Hackworth knows that changing this is a must if they want to stay in the postseason race.

“If we can execute like we did against LA and learn how to close out games on the road, we’ll be in a good spot. But that’s been our biggest hurdle all season,” Hackworth admitted.

New England’s Playoff Fight and Recent Struggles

The New England Revolution (8-15-2, 26 points) are also clinging to their playoff hopes, sitting just below the Eastern Conference playoff line. They’re still within striking distance, but they’ve been struggling to find any momentum, going 1-4-1 in their last six matches. Their most recent setback? A 2-0 loss to Real Salt Lake, which highlighted their need for more consistent performances as they head into the final stretch of the season.

Revolution coach Caleb Porter isn’t holding back on his expectations for the team.

“It’s time to peak,” Porter said. “This is the part of the season where the best teams, and the best players, step up. Pressure’s high, but that’s when the top talent rises to the occasion.”

Key Players Missing Due to International Duty

New England’s already shaky playoff hopes are taking another hit this weekend, as they’ll be without several key players due to international duty. Defender Xavier Arreaga (Ecuador), midfielder Esmir Bajraktarevic (Bosnia and Herzegovina), and their new midfielder Alhassan Yusuf (Nigeria) are all unavailable, leaving some big gaps in their lineup.

This could be the opportunity St. Louis City needs to finally snag that elusive road win, especially with Teuchert and Hartel in great form.

Defensive Issues for Both Teams

Let’s face it—neither team has been great defensively. St. Louis has let in 51 goals this season, while New England isn’t much better, having conceded 49. They rank among the worst defensive teams in MLS, and while St. Louis has shown slight improvements lately, they’re still shaky when it comes to keeping clean sheets.

On the flip side, New England’s offense hasn’t exactly been lighting it up either. They have the second-worst offense in the league, with just 28 goals all season. That said, they’ll be up against a St. Louis defense prone to lapses, so the Revs might find some chances to break their scoring drought. This game has all the makings of a high-scoring affair, especially if both teams continue their defensive struggles.

St. Louis City’s Recipe for a Win

For St. Louis, getting that first road win is going to come down to maintaining their recent attacking form and shoring up their defense. Teuchert and Hartel have brought a spark to the team, and if they can keep that chemistry going, they’ll have a good chance to break down New England’s weakened backline.

Hackworth’s squad also needs to show they can close out games, especially on the road—something that’s eluded them all season. The win over LA Galaxy proved they can compete with top teams, but now they need to translate that success into away games if they want to stay in the playoff hunt.

New England’s Path to Victory

For the Revolution, a win at home is crucial if they want to keep their postseason dreams alive. Caleb Porter’s team will have to rise to the occasion, despite missing some key players. Their offense has been underwhelming, but if they can take advantage of St. Louis’ defensive weak spots, they have a shot at turning things around.

Both teams are desperate for points, and with neither side showing much defensive solidity, this match could come down to which team capitalizes on the other’s mistakes. The Revolution will need to sharpen their attack and make the most of their home-field advantage if they want to walk away with all three points.

Conclusion: A Must-Win for Both Teams

St. Louis City SC and the New England Revolution are both at critical points in their seasons. St. Louis is still hunting for their first road win, while New England is looking to bounce back from a rough stretch and keep their playoff hopes alive, even with key players out of the lineup.

With both defenses struggling, this match could be wide open, offering plenty of scoring chances. It’s likely to come down to which team can tighten up at the back and convert their opportunities. Whoever pulls that off will walk away with three much-needed points.