Nashville beats Austin 2-1 to win the U.S. Open Cup

City SC is eliminated from the playoffs, but it still figures in the playoff race. If Austin beats or ties City SC on Saturday, it clinches a playoff spot. Though Austin has five other ways to clinch a playoff spot this weekend even if it loses to City SC

The weekly notebook, notes on Joyner, City2, Hackworth, Teuchert, Fall and other stuff. www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...

Chicago beats Miami 5-3 to clinch a playoff spot in the East. Chicago had 30 points last season, now has 51, so turnarounds can happen quickly in MLS. First playoff spot for Fire since 2017. Win ends Red Bulls playoff streak at league-record 15 seasons.

The weekly City SC notebook, with items on Joyner playing two games in one weekend, Hackworth on his busy schedule, Cedric Teuchert, injury updates and more. www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...

Maddie DiMaria and Ella McNeal from Scott Gallagher picked for the U.S. women's U-17 World Cup team

At this point in college athletics, a preseason conference poll is a very inexact science, but SLU is picked for 2nd in the A-10. www.stltoday.com/sports/colle...

Don Popovic, who came to St. Louis from Yugoslavia to play in the NASL, and went on to coach the St. Louis Storm (and a bunch of other MISL teams) and then co-found the Lou Fusz Soccer Club, died today. He was 84.

Sangbin Jeong gets called in for South Korea's October friendlies (Oct. 10 vs. Brazil, Oct. 14 vs. Paraguay), which are back in South Korea, but with City SC off that week, he shouldn't miss any games (though he may be having some jet lag issues for City SC's season finale on Oct. 18).

Tough weekend for City SC, but City2 is going to finish with the best record in MLS Next Pro. www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...

A miracle Mykhi finish clinches best record in Next Pro for City2 www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...

City2 wins the PK shootout 4-2 to get two points and clinch the best record in MLS Next Pro with one game left to play. City2 will be at home for as long as its alive in the playoffs.

And that was the last play of the game, so City2 gets 1 point and will go for a second in the PK shootout

Mykhi Joyner draws a foul in the box in the 95th, converts the PK in the 97th to tie the game. 15th goal on the season, 9th PK in 9 tries.

John Hackworth more than a bit miffed after no foul being called when Joyner goes down chasing a long ball (instead the foul was called on Joyner) and LAFC 2 goes to the other end and scores to take 1-0 lead in the 63rd.

At the half, City2 0, LAFC 2 0. City2 with more of the chances, but shots haven't been on target.

Having flashbacks after James Bertels sings the anthem before the City2 game

Thomas Hasal, who came off the bench for Lloris at the half last night, starting in goal for LAFC 2

City2 closing in on kickoff at Energizer Park. City2 needs 2 points, so a win or a PK win after a tie, to clinch the best record in MLS Next Pro. Antwi, Orozco, Reid, Watts dropping down to start, with Joyner, who played 25 minutes last night, available on the bench.

By not making the playoffs, City SC will be in the U.S. Open Cup in 2026. The final gamer, with reaction from Critchley, Hartel and Lowen. www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...

Turns out that of the five things that needed to happen to keep City SC alive in the playoff race tonight, only one of them, Houston losing to Nashville, did. Which means that City SC, currently 13th in the Western Conference, won't get any higher than 13th.

Even if City SC had won tonight, it would have been eliminated because RSL beat Austin.

Son and Bouanga set an MLS record tonight against City SC for most consecutive goals by two players. They have scored the last 17 goals for LAFC, topping the record of 15 set by Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge of Nashville earlier this season.

It's a final, LAFC 3, City SC 0. That makes official what has been obvious for the past two months, that City SC isn't going to the playoffs.

At the half, LAFC 2, City SC 0. LAFC has had the most of everything, possession, chances, goals. Second goal shows how quickly nothing can turn into a scoring opportunity for them

Son 4 minutes into first half stoppage time puts LAFC up 2-0.

Conrad Wallem with a giveaway straight to Bouanga, who scores from about 20 yards out. LAFC 1, City 0

75 degrees at kickoff at CityPark

Tonight’s tifo action

Home game No. 50 for City SC and 50th sellout for the team. Also going through the turnstiles today was the 1,000,000th fan.

City SC has 5 games that have to go its way to avoid elimination. A win by RSL, Dallas, Houston or San Jose ends it (or a tie by Dallas) or a loss by City SC. The first two kick off at 7:30: 7:30 City vs. LAFC; Houston at Nashville 8:30 Austin at RSL 9:30 Dallas at Portland; San Jose at San Diego

And if you start listening now, you'll finish the podcast with time to spare before kickoff www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...

Hartel makes a case for Critchley to be kept on as head coach, Hiebert always at the ready, other notes www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...

Catching up on this week: Big test for City SC, and a thrill for Sangbin Jeong as he faces Korean legend Son Heung-Min www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...

#stlcitysc roster notes: First time for this lineup, as McSorley stays in for his second start and Jeong and Fall return after being out last week. Pompeu and Hiebert come out from last week. Healthy scratches not on roster are Yaro, Reid, Orozco, Watts, some of whom you may see tomorrow with City2

City SC lineup: Burki; Wallem, Baumgartl, Fall, Padelford; Durkin, Lowen; McSorley, Hartel, Jeong; Klauss. Bench: Lundt, Antwi, Becher, Joyner, Hiebert, Morales, Ostrak, Pompeu, Totland

LAFC may be the first team all season to have fewer cones on the field for warmups than City SC

Also a big game for City SC's Sangbin Jeong, facing fellow South Korean Son Heung-Min. He said it's an honor to play him: "He is one of my idols." www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...

According to stats kept by me and Stu Durando, Brady Dunlap was the leading scorer at Billiken Madness with 19, hitting five 3's. Dion Brown had 16, Kellen Thames had 14, though the best thing was the amount of minutes he logged. Amari McCottry had 12 but looked good on both ends of the court

The City SC injury report: Henry Kessler - Lower Body (Out) Cedric Teuchert - Lower Body (Out)

SLU's full schedule is now in place. They'll play at least one game on every day of the week, though only one on a Monday. At least 12 games on national TV. Here's the schedule: www.stltoday.com/sports/colle...

Right now, SLU has games on these channels: ESPN networks, USA, CBS Sports, TruTV. More sure to come.

New Year's Eve at Chaifetz: SLU will open A-10 play on Dec. 31 at home against St. Joseph's. No start time set yet for the game, but you'll probably have to go home to celebrate the start of 2026.

City SC's elimination scenarios this weekend are both plentiful and simple: 1. St. Louis CITY SC LOSS/DRAW vs. LAFC OR 2. Real Salt Lake WIN vs. Austin FC OR 3. San Jose Earthquakes WIN at San Diego FC OR 4. FC Dallas WIN/DRAW at Portland Timbers OR 5. Houston Dynamo FC WIN at Nashville SC

Hartel makes a case for Critchley, why Hiebert stood out on Saturday, who's feeling better. It's note day. www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...

Goodbye Jeff. Can't tell you how many times Gordo would ask for my take on something on the Net Front Presence podcast and I'd think, "You're asking me? You know everything about hockey." Happy retirement. www.stltoday.com/sports/colum...

8th-ranked SLU men's soccer loses at Akron 3-0. SLU had allowed 3 goals total in its first eight games. SLU was 6th in RPI, Akron 16th.

And in case you missed it, practice has begun for what has the potential to be a good SLU basketball season www.stltoday.com/sports/colle...

Last season, City SC finished strongly but didn't keep Hackworth as coach and 2025 happened. The team is showing life at the end of this season and Hartel thinks keeping Critchley would help it carry over to 2026. Plus Hiebert's return and injury updates. www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...

SLU's tie with Missouri State last week didn't cost it much in the coaches poll, with the team dropping from seventh to eighth in the poll that came out today. SLU plays Akron tonight in a game that airs on ESPNU, but not on ESPN+. SLU is 10th and 21st in the other polls.