Eduard Lowen shines as St. Louis City SC tops Houston, takes MLS Western Conference lead

St. Louis City SC midfielder Eduard Löwen, left, dribbles toward the goal past Houston forward Iván Franco in the first half at CityPark on Saturday, June 3, 2023.

St. Louis City SC midfielder Célio Pompeu, front, and Houston forward Iván Franco battle for the ball during the first half at CityPark on Saturday, June 3, 2023.

Midfielder Tomas Ostrak was saying what's probably on the mind of every player, coach and fan of St. Louis City SC at the moment when it comes to midfielder Eduard Lowen.

"I hope he's never injured," he said.

To reinforce the point, Ostrak touched his hand to his teeth, which in Ostrak's native Czech Republic means going one better than knocking on wood, the theory being in case of a fire, wood might burn but teeth won't.

City SC will leave no stone unturned to protect its most valuable asset. Sure, striker Klauss may have missed his sixth MLS match on Saturday night, which is not good, but his impact has been nothing compared to that of Lowen. As long as there is Lowen, there is hope.

He proved that again Saturday. Lowen converted a penalty kick to start the scoring, took the free kick that led to the second goal, and then stepped aside to let teammate Nicholas Gioacchini take another penalty kick as City SC defeated Houston Dynamo FC 3-0 before another sellout crowd at CityPark on Saturday night and climbed back to the top of the Western Conference standings with 28 points.

City SC is at another flex point in its brief history. After a stretch where it lost three matches in a row to MLS teams, two in league play and one in the U.S. Open Cup, City SC has won three games in a row, outscoring opponents 10-1. The team's 28 points, nine wins, 23 goals and plus-18 goal difference are all bests for an MLS expansion team after 14 games.

Members of St. Louis City SC stand for the national anthem alongside their buddies before the start of a game against the Houston Dynamo at CityPark stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]

"Edu Lowen is our engine," said Ostrak, who scored the game's second goal. "He's so important for us. I can not describe how important he is. ... It's fun watching him."

There were plenty of moments to savor. There was the penalty kick in the ninth minute after Indiana Vassilev was fouled in the box that made it 1-0 and put Lowen at 3-for-3 on penalty kicks this season. Coach Bradley Carnell liked that one the best.

"That one was sent with a message, and that inspires us to do great things here at home," Carnell said.

In the 38th minute, Houston got the ball into the City SC box in scoring position when Lowen completed a long run and, seeming to come out of nowhere, took the ball off the foot of Houston's Ibrahim Aliyu after he had a too-strong first touch.

St. Louis City SC midfielder Eduard Löwen (10) drills a penalty kick past Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark (12) during the first half of a game at CityPark stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]

"That was a massive chance for Houston when it was still very, very tight," City SC sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel said. "I think when (Lowen) came here, he was more focused to play with the ball, but I think now, the time he has spent with Bradley where against the ball is just as important, sometimes more important. I think he has improved his defensive game a lot, and we benefit from it as a team."

"This was something Bradley was challenging me, especially the last couple of weeks," Lowen said. "Many times, I’m doing recovery runs, but sometimes I don't do it all the way, and in this situation, I just saw he was wide open, and I had to go all the way 100% and finish that run. I think in the end, there was a foul the referee didn't call."

In the second half, there was Lowen's free kick from 37 yards out that he put perfectly on the head of defender Lucas Bartlett, who headed it across the goal mouth to Ostrak to knock in. A week ago, Lowen put a free kick from a similar location in the net that was the second-longest free-kick goal in the league since 2015. This time, he found a teammate's head.

"His set pieces are amazing," Pfannenstiel said.

St. Louis City SC defender Tim Parker (26) clears a shot away from an open goal with pressure from Houston Dynamo forward Iván Franco (7) during second half action during a soccer game at CityPark stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]

And then there was the shot he didn't take. Aziel Jackson was fouled in the box, and a penalty kick was called. Lowen went to the spot to take the kick, and Gioacchini came over and talked to him and asked if he could take the kick, and then started to walk away. He got about 20 feet away when he motioned for Gioacchini to take the PK, and the striker came back and put it in the net to make it 3-0. Gioacchini, Klauss and Lowen all have five goals now.

"The other guys told me in the future that I should take all the penalties because it was only 2-0 and maybe it creates chaos as well because many other guys will want to shoot as well," Lowen said. "I just thought he asked me, and obviously, I want to score the second one and use the opportunity. I was very confident about the penalty. But I thought like, you know, I want to do something good for my teammate. He wanted to score. As a striker, you always want to score. So, I just thought about it and gave it to him."

Carnell also wasn't thrilled with the decision.

"I’m not the happiest," he said, "but I support my players, and I know how tight games can be and at 2-1, Edu is a great teammate. He's shown that time and time again. Edu is the designated penalty taker."

"I think it shows you a lot about the person he is off the field as well as on the field when he gave the penalty to Niko," Pfannenstiel said. "Another guy would have said, ‘See you later alligator,’ and would have scored it."

St. Louis City SC forward Tomáš Ostrák (7) reaches for the ball during the first half of a game against the Houston Dynamo at CityPark on Saturday, June 3, 2023.

"He's showing that he's a really good teammate, good person," Ostrak said.

City SC's defense got a little bumpy midway through the second half and nearly allowed a goal, but held its ground and posted its fourth shutout of the season. Houston threatened but never could come close to finishing. The Dynamo took 16 shots; six of them were off-target and six of them were blocked. Goalie Roman Burki had to make only four saves.

Now, it's a weird week for City SC, which starts with the 40-minute-long rain-suspended game in Dallas on Wednesday. If Ostrak can knock on his teeth, Pfannenstiel can choose not to change clothes. For the run of City SC's streak, he has been wearing the same light purple polo shirt.

"I switched back to it and since then it goes very well, so I have to wear it again a few more times," he said.

St. Louis City SC midfielder Célio Pompeu (12) piles on the celebration for a goal scored by midfielder Eduard Löwen (10) on a penalty kick against Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark (12) during the first half of a game at CityPark stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]

St. Louis City SC midfielder Eduard Löwen drills a penalty kick for a goal in the first half of an MLS match against Houston on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at CityPark.

St. Louis City SC midfielder Célio Pompeu (12) vies for a header against Houston Dynamo defender Daniel Steres (5) during the first half at CityPark on Saturday, June 3, 2023.

St. Louis City SC midfielder Célio Pompeu, front, and Houston forward Iván Franco battle for the ball during the first half at CityPark on Saturday, June 3, 2023.

Referee Joe Dickerson draws a red card against Houston Dynamo forward Iván Franco (7) near the end of the first half as St. Louis City SC defender Tim Parker (26) looks on during a soccer game at CityPark stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Upon review, the card was reduced to a yellow. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]

St. Louis City SC midfielder Eduard Löwen (10) celebrates scoring a penalty kick off Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark (12) during the first half at CityPark on Saturday, June 3, 2023.

St. Louis City SC forward Nicholas Gioacchini (11) celebrates scoring a goal off a penalty shot against Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark (12) as City SC teammate Aziel Jackson (25) reacts during second half action during a soccer game at CityPark stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]

St. Louis City SC midfielder Eduard Löwen, left, dribbles toward the goal past Houston forward Iván Franco in the first half at CityPark on Saturday, June 3, 2023.

St. Louis City SC forward Nicholas Gioacchini (11) shoots and scores on a penalty shot against Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark (12) during second half action during a soccer game at CityPark stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]

Houston Dynamo forward Ibrahim Aliyu (18) and St. Louis City SC defender Lucas Bartlett (24) jump for the ball during the first half of a game at CityPark stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]

St. Louis City SC midfielder Célio Pompeu (12) dribbles toward the goal with pressure from Houston Dynamo defender Daniel Steres (5) during second half action in a soccer game at CityPark stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]

St. Louis City SC defender Kyle Hiebert (22) heads the ball during the first half of a game against the Houton Dynamo at CityPark stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]

St. Louis City SC forward Tomáš Ostrák (7) reaches for the ball during the first half of a game against the Houston Dynamo at CityPark on Saturday, June 3, 2023.

St. Louis City SC fans erupt before the start of a game against the Houston Dynamo at CityPark stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]

Houston Dynamo midfielder Artur (6) and Houston Dynamo defender Chase Gasper (30) double team Indiana Vassilev (19) action during the first half of a soccer game at CityPark stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]

Head Coach Bradley Carnell watches St. Louis City SC midfielder Eduard Löwen (10) charge downfield with the ball during first half action of game against the Houton Dynamo at CityPark stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]

"Will you sign my back? You are my favorite," said Zach Khori, 9, who smiles as St. Louis City SC forward Nicholas Gioacchini (11) autographs his shirt after St. Louis City SC beat the Houston Dynamo 3-0 at CityPark stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]

St. Louis City SC midfielder Eduard Löwen (10) dribbles around Houston Dynamo defender Daniel Steres (5) during the first half action of a game at CityPark stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]

St. Louis City SC midfielder Eduard Löwen catches his breath after missing a shot in the second half of an MLS game against the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at CityPark.

Houston Dynamo defender Daniel Steres (5) fouls St. Louis City SC midfielder Aziel Jackson (25) in the penalty box during second half action during a soccer game at CityPark stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]

Teammates congratulate St. Louis City SC forward Nicholas Gioacchini (11) goal on a penalty shot against Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark (12) during second half action during a soccer game at CityPark stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]

Houston Dynamo defender Franco Escobar (2) and St. Louis City SC midfielder Célio Pompeu (12) exchange words during the second half at CityPark stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]

St. Louis City SC midfielder Célio Pompeu (12) pleads to the ref for a foul to be called during the first half of a game against the Houston Dynamo at CityPark stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]

Lucas Bartlett (24), Njabulo Blom (6), assistant coach John Hackworth, Kyle Hiebert (22), Eduard Löwen (10) and other members of St. Louis City SC join hands and leap toward the supporter section after defeating the Houston Dynamo 3-0 at CityPark stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]

In today's 10 a.m. "Ten Hochman" video — brought to you by Siteman Cancer Center and Window Nation — Ben Hochman pays homage to the soccer show "Ted Lasso," which came to an end this week with its final episode. Also, a happy birthday shoutout to Joe Namath! And as always, Hochman picks a random St. Louis Cards card from the hat!

Keep up with the latest news on St. Louis City SC

Tom Timmermann is a City SC beat writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

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