The Pitch (Matchday 2): Top Things to Watch in MLS this Week

St. Louis CITY SC Opens CITYPARK Aiming for Consecutive Wins

St. Louis CITY SC shocked MLS in their inaugural match, as they roared back from 2-1 down in the second half to win 3-2 at Austin FC’s Q2 Stadium. Tim Parker, who scored the club’s first-ever goal, Jared Stroud, and Designated Player João Klauss were all on the scoresheet in the comeback victory. Next up for St. Louis, their inaugural home game at CITYPARK on Saturday (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass) in front of a sold-out crowd of 22,500 against 2022 expansion side Charlotte FC.

CITYPARK and the surrounding district is the largest urban professional sports campus in the U.S. and the only one with a stadium, practice facility, team headquarters, and retail store all within the same footprint. The 31-acre urban campus in St. Louis’ Downtown West area will unite the region around its love of sports while serving as the heartbeat of St. Louis. The campus creates a 24/7/365 fan and community experience that drives visitors and development to downtown St. Louis.

Currently, $3.5 billion in developments have been proposed, planned, or are under construction in downtown St. Louis. MLS Commissioner Don Garber has said that the club’s comprehensive stadium plan will “serve as a model for future professional sports teams in the U.S.”

With a win in front of an eager group of supporters at CITYPARK, St. Louis would become just the fourth expansion team in MLS history to win their first two games, joining LAFC (2018), Seattle Sounders FC (2011), and the Chicago Fire (1998).

Wayne Rooney’s D.C. Darlings Deliver on Matchday 1

D.C. United’s 3-2 win over Toronto FC on Saturday surely felt like a full circle moment for head coach Wayne Rooney. Having made his professional debut as a 16-year-old nearly two decades ago, the former England international found himself on the touchline starting 16-year-old Matai Akinmboni in defense.

Akinmboni, who was the second Homegrown signed to a first-team contract under Rooney, earned his spot in Saturday’s starting lineup after what Rooney called an “excellent” showing in preseason. The 16-year-old showed well for the 78 minutes in which he was on the field, silencing Italian international forwards Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi of Toronto FC from open play.

When D.C. found itself down 2-1 in the 83rd minute, though, Rooney turned to his rising Homegrown starlets to turn the tide in their favor. “Go express…