Club América meets St. Louis City SC in a rematch of the 2023 group stage when the two clubs square off on Tuesday at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Las Águilas took a 4-nil victory in front of a capacity crowd at CITYPARK one year and 18 days ago. The MLS club isn’t looking to avenge that loss, however, which eliminated the club from advancing past the group stage.
“I don't think we're approaching it like that at all,” said St. Louis City SC head coach John Hackworth. “Both clubs have made changes. Different teams in particular. Our focus is on trying to beat a really good Club America team and advance in this tournament. It has nothing to do with revenge or thinking about last year.”
After last year’s Leagues Cup, St. Louis went on to finish their debut MLS season as the top team in the Western Conference standings. After a tough start to this year, the team has parted ways with former coach Bradley Carnell as Hackworth was named the interim.
The club reached the knockout round after finishing as a top two team in West 3, behind FC Juárez and in front of FC Dallas. Last year’s success did grant them home field in the Round of 32 against the Portland Timbers, whom they defeated 3-1 with goals from Cedric Teuchert, Marcel Hartel, and Simon Becher – the latter two assisted by star midfielder Eduard Löwen.
“I think as a team, we've matured, we've improved,” said St. Louis City SC defender Joshua Yaro. “We've shown that through the Leagues Cup games that we've had. We do remember what happened last year, but also, it's not something that's in the back of our minds. This is a fresh new year. It's a fresh game.”
Club América has improved as well. The Mexico City club went on to win the Apertura 2023 and Clausura 2024 league titles in Mexico.
As back-to-back champion, the club was granted the bye to the Round of 32 without the need to involve the aggregate standings. In its first match, the fifteen-time Liga MX champions got right to work with a 2-1 win over Atlas.
“A year that has been, I think, incredible for us in many aspects in question of titles, but things change,” said Club América goalkeeper Luis Ángel Malagón. “Today, the truth is that it is a different stage, a different circumstance, but believe me, what we do have in mind is that we have to win and we are going in search of one more title.”
Érick Sánchez was one of the club’s big signings of the summer, brought over from CONCACAF Champions Cup winners CF Pachuca. “Chiquito” scored the opening goal against Atlas while captain Henry Martín added the match-winner.
America features former MLS players amongst its ranks in forward Brian Rodríguez and midfielder Jonathan dos Santos. Expected to be one of the contenders for the trophy, the message from the team is that it is not overlooking its opponents.
“Football is game by game and each game has its own story,” said Club América head coach André Jardine. “You have to be very competent, very focused and you have to be at a very good level, because any rival, in this competition, here any rival can beat you.”
