Afrifa Scores in Sporting’s 3-1 Loss at St. Louis

September 28, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release

Sporting Kansas City (8-17-7, 31 points) fell 3-1 to rivals St. Louis City SC (7-11-13, 34 points) on Saturday night at CityPark in St. Louis. Stephen Afrifa scored a superb goal for Sporting on the hour mark, but the hosts prevailed behind strikes from Cedric Teuchert, Rasmus Alm and Eduard Lowen to snap a four-match winless run against Kansas City in the third and final battle between the teams this season.

Less than 72 hours removed from an extra-time loss at LAFC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final, Sporting fielded a lineup featuring eight changes as only Zorhan Bassong, Jake Davis and Robert Voloder retained their places in the starting XI. Davis, a product of the Sporting KC Academy, notably donned the captain’s armband for the first time as one of five Kansas City starters under the age of 24. Open Cup Final goal scorer Erik Thommy (foot) and veteran defender Andreu Fontas (knee) were notable absentees for Sporting’s fifth match in 14 days.

A pulsating atmosphere set the stage for a frantic, end-to-end opening in the eighth all-time derby between the clubs. St. Louis attackers Joao Klauss and Teuchert both had shots deflected behind for corner kicks before Afrifa forced a save from goalkeeper Roman Burki in the ninth minute. Afrifa was on the end of another opportunity 10 minutes later when Burki flubbed an Alenis Vargas cross, but the Canadian forward’s shot at a tight angle was blocked.

The hosts drew first blood in the 33rd minute. After Burki floated a long ball into Sporting’s defensive third, Lowen settled into possession and played a square ball to the top of the box. Akil Watts had his effort repelled by Bassong but Teuchert was on hand nearby to send a well-struck curler into the low right corner for his fifth goal in just his seventh MLS appearance since joining the club this summer.

William Agada went agonizingly close to pulling the visitors level a minute shy of halftime, but his 22-yard sledgehammer from a central position fizzed marginally wide of Burki’s right-hand post. St. Louis then spurned a chance of their own on the cusp of intermission with Alm dragging a shot wide near the penalty spot.

Midfielder Marcel Hartel, another St. Louis summer signing, carved out the first look of the second half in the 50th minute, cutting in from the left side and rifling inches over the crossbar. Undeterred, City would find their second goal four minutes later when…