Saint Louis FC Defeats Sporting KC II and Weather

 Last night (15 August), I was at World Wide Technology Soccer Park in Fenton for the USL Championship ( https://www.uslchampionship.com/) match between Saint Louis FC (https://www.saintlouisfc.com/) and Sporting Kansas City II (https://www.sportingkc.com/sportingkcii).

Before the match, I joined the St. Louligans (https://stlouligans.com/) in their tailgate in the parking lot. I made a donation to the St. Louligans' Charity du Jour, Pride STL ( https://www.pridestl.org/). There was a bit of talk about the name and crest reveal two days before of St. Louis City SC (https://stlcitysc.com/), the Major League Soccer (https://www.mlssoccer.com/) team that will start play in 2023.

After the raffle drawing, the St. Louligans walked into West Community Stadium for the match. We were just settling into our seats when word came to evacuate the stadium, due to lightning in the vicinity. We had to go back to our cars to wait out the weather delay. The all-clear did come and the match kicked off about 50 minutes later than the scheduled 7:00 pm start time.

Russell Cicerone put the home side ahead five minutes in; however, Sporting KC II leveled it 35 minutes later. It began to rain as the first half came to an end, and the rain soon came down harder. A report of lightning in the vicinity meant another weather delay. We walked back to our cars to wait this out. It would be about one hour before the second half kicked off.

Mour Samb put Saint Louis FC back ahead in the 69th minute, after several earlier efforts came up short. Joaquin Rivas put the dagger in the 90th minute and Saint Louis FC came out 3-1 winners.

After the match, the Saint Louis FC players came over to the corner where the St. Louligans were located and they sang with us as they do after a win.

Saint Louis FC is on the road this coming weekend, then hosts Louisville City FC next Saturday, 29 August.

Later.

Twice with Saint Louis FC This Past Week

Saint Louis FC (https://www.saintlouisfc.com/) had two home United Soccer League Championship (https://www.uslchampionship.com/) matches this past week at West Community Stadium of World Wide Technology Soccer Park.

The first was this past Wednesday night (5 August), when Sporting Kansas City II (https://www.sportingkc.com/sportingkcii) came to town. The St. Louligans (https://stlouligans.com/) gathered in the parking lot before the match to socialize, then walked into the stadium for the match.

After a scoreless first half, Sporting took a 1-0 lead. Saint Louis didn't give up, and scored in second half stoppage time to earn a 1-1 draw. We celebrated like it was a victory.

Three days later (8 August), I was back at WWT Soccer Park for Saint Louis FC's contest with FC Tulsa (https://www.fctulsa.com/). Prior to going, I made an online donation for the "Schlaffle" raffle the St. Louligans have at their tailgates, in association with Schlafly Beer (https://www.schlafly.com/). My ticket was drawn, and I won the night's prize package: a wooden Schlafly beer sign, two Schlafly/Saint Louis FC key fobs/bottle openers, and a Saint Louis FC pre-match shirt autographed by midfielder Russell Cicerone. I put these items in my car before walking into West Community Stadium for the match. The Schlaffle's real winners were that night's Charity du Jour, the National Alliance on Mental Illness--St. Louis (https://www.namistl.org/).

Although Saint Louis had its chances, FC Tulsa proved the better side, running out 2-0 winners. They scored well into the first half, then added another in the 90th minute.

I hope Saint Louis FC finds good form soon, with a rematch against Sporting Kansas City II at home this Saturday night.

Later.