St. Louis City SC stepped out of its league, both figuratively and literally on Wednesday night, facing Aston Villa of the English Premier League.
Aston Villa is the best City SC will play this season, a solid team in the EPL going up against a team barely out of last place in Major League Soccer.
So with the potential for the game to get messy, it didn’t. Yes, Aston Villa is in its preseason but City SC is in the middle of its season, but the talent discrepancy even at that level is still significant. And while it’s foolish, if not impossible, to take anything from this game other than it being a good experience for the City SC players, a 2-1 loss for City SC is a respectable showing.
Fallou Fall, who arrived in St. Louis on Sunday, made his debut for the team, coming on at halftime. City SC’s goal came from Cedric Teuchert, snapping an 11-game goalless streak over all competitions. City SC used 25 players in the game,
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City SC has the weekend off and won’t return to action until playing Nashville at Energizer Park a week from Saturday.
It looked like the game might get messy in the first half, as Aston Villa started to press, pinned City SC deep, and kept taking the ball away. But a good save by Roman Burki four minutes bought City SC some time.
The inevitable happened in the 14th minute when a City SC turnover in its own end led to Donyell Malen passing to Morgan Rogers, who beat Burki from about 6 yards out to make it 1-0.
As the half went on, City SC seemed to get its legs under it and while it didn’t have any great chances, it actually got the ball in positions where it could score. Meanwhile, Aston Villa looked like a team still in its preseason and missed lots of shots and missed opportunities on corner kicks and set pieces to keep it a one-goal game.
Both teams switched their lineups entirely at the half, and a header by Ollie Watkins from 5 yards out off a long ball into the box by Ezri Konsa made it 2-0.
And then Teuchert scored, taking a pass from Simon Becher and beating goalie Marco Bizot from 18 yards out.
City SC beat writer Tom Timmermann and co-host Beth O'Malley reflect on a disappointing, crushing loss for City SC and what the team's future looks like after acquiring a young striker from Minnesota in the transfer window.
Photos: City SC comes up short against Aston Villa
City SC forward Cedric Teuchert (36) scores his club's first and only goal of the game against English Premier League team Aston Villa on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at Energizer Park.
Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers (27) embraces his teammates after scoring the first goal of the game for Aston Villa during the St. Louis City SC game against Aston Villa at Energizer Park in St. Louis on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
St. Louis City forward Simon Becher (11) battles a defender for the ball during the St. Louis City SC game against Aston Villa at Energizer Park in St. Louis on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
St. Louis City goalkeeper Roman Bürki (1) spits out water during a hydration break during the St. Louis City SC game against Aston Villa at Energizer Park in St. Louis on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
St. Louis City forward Brendan McSorley (80) battles for the ball during the St. Louis City SC game against Aston Villa at Energizer Park in St. Louis on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
City SC Interim Head Coach David Critchley makes a lap of the field after the St. Louis City SC game against Aston Villa at Energizer Park in St. Louis on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans (8) and St. Louis City forward Cedric Teuchert (36) embrace after the St. Louis City SC game against Aston Villa at Energizer Park in St. Louis on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
Aston Villa defender Pau Torres (14) looks to the ball after getting a header during the St. Louis City SC game against Aston Villa at Energizer Park in St. Louis on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
St. Louis City forward Cedric Teuchert (36) celebrates after scoring a goal during the St. Louis City SC game against Aston Villa at Energizer Park in St. Louis on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
St. Louis City midfielder Jake Girdwood-Reich (3) goes up for a header during the St. Louis City SC game against Aston Villa at Energizer Park in St. Louis on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
City SC defender Fallou Fall passes the ball against Aston Villa on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at Energizer Park.
St. Louis City defender Fallou Fall (95) looks to the ball after falling to the ground during the St. Louis City SC game against Aston Villa at Energizer Park in St. Louis on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
St. Louis City defender Fallou Fall (95) passes the ball during the St. Louis City SC game against Aston Villa at Energizer Park in St. Louis on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
St. Louis City midfielder Eduard Löwen (10) attempts to steal the ball during the St. Louis City SC game against Aston Villa at Energizer Park in St. Louis on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
Aston Villa forward Donyell Malen (17) is surrounded by defending City SC players during the St. Louis City SC game against Aston Villa at Energizer Park in St. Louis on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
