12 March 2023 , 18:45
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St. Louis City SC won their third successive game to tie the MLS record for wins to start the season by an expansion team.
Jared Stroud and Kyle Hiebert scored the goals for City as they defeated the Portland Timbers 2-1 on Saturday night, with the winner coming in the 75th minute. The Missouri team become only the second expansion team in MLS history to start with three straight wins - coming from behind in each one - while they are the only club with nine points from three games this season.
The Timbers took an early lead on Zac McGraw's header off a corner from Eryk Williamson in the third minute. Portland’s goal ensured the team maintained their record of 23 consecutive matches with a goal, which is the longest active streak in the league.
However, the Timbers lost momentum when Christian Parades was stretchered off with injury, allowing St. Louis to get back into the game and Stroud levelled in first-half stoppage time. Hiebert’s winner was a header beyond Portland goalkeeper David Bingham.
St. Louis had already made history before the game, becoming the first MLS team to score at least three goals in each of its first two matches after defeating Austin FC 3-2 in the season-opener before a 3-1 win over Charlotte last weekend. Remarkably, City have come from behind in each of their three wins to fire a warning to their rivals.
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With three wins to start the season, St. Louis matched the expansion Seattle Sounders' start in 2009. The Sounders have enjoyed plenty of success since their arrival, winning the MLS Cup twice (2016 and 2019) as well as the CONCACAF Champions League title in 2022.
St. Louis City SC battled to secure a crucial win in Portland, with defender Kyle Heibert scoring the winner (AP)Meanwhile, the Timbers opened the season with a 1-0 victory at home over Sporting Kansas City before a 3-2 loss to reigning champions LAFC last weekend. Portland - who won the MLS Cup in 2015 - missed the playoffs in 2022 just one year after losing in the final to New York City FC.
The victory for St. Louis comes as the club is being heavily linked with a move for Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino. The Brazilian recently informed the Reds that he will leave the club once his contract expires in the summer, despite boss Jurgen Klopp wanting to re-sign him.
Firmino signed for Liverpool back in 2015 and starred under Klopp as he formed one of the most deadly attacking trios in world football alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. A move to the MLS would make sense for the 31-year-old to be a star name in the league but he may consider offers in Europe.