St. Louis CITY SC and FC Juárez meet Sunday at CITYPARK in the Gateway City to close out Group West 3 action in the 2024 Leagues Cup. Both squads have qualified for the knockout stage by virtue of their wins over the other Group West 3 team: FC Dallas.
CITY SC opened group play with their win over FC Dallas: a 2-1 comeback. After falling behind early, Cedric Tuechert, who was making his CITY debut, equalized ten minutes later.
Simon Becher joined Tuechert and Hartel as three players who made their CITY SC home debut in their match against Dallas. The reinforcements, however, have not changed how Juarez’ coach Mauricio Barbieri is preparing his players for the match. “They showed in the last few games, not only with Dallas, but the other games we have seen in MLS, they have a certain way to play. They have found a system that fits well with the characteristics of their players.” Barbieri said in the pre-match presser. “I think they won’t change too much, but if they change, we will be ready.”
Juárez, on the other hand, did in 2024 what they did in 2023: beat an MLS team from Texas to advance to the knockouts. Last season, los Bravos turned the tables on Austin FC, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 win. Last Wednesday, Juárez dominated the action in Frisco with an 18-shot onslaught, eleven of which were on frame. A first half goal from Ángel Zaldívar was matched by Avilés Hurtado’s second half goal for the 2-0 win.
The win stopped a trend where Juarez, despite playing well, dropped a couple of games in Liga MX after taking the lead, losing at home to Pumas and Club América. Their recent form has CITY SC coach John Hackworth on alert. “I have coached some of those players in the past, and I know the quality they have.” Hackworth continued. “If it is a matter that they (Juárez) want to accomplish winning the group in the same way we do, then it’s going to be a very interesting game.”
The Group West 3 winner will play the winner of the León-Colorado Rapids match on Monday. The loser will face Portland, who won Group West 5 with wins over those same teams.
