McSorley brace, assist secures CITY win against San Jose

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - St. Louis CITY SC beat the San Jose Earthquakes 3-1 in a late Saturday match at PayPal Park.

CITY’s Brendan McSorley, in his first start for the first team, scored two goals, earned an assist and had a goal-line clearance, which earned him the Man of the Matchday title.

In minute 10, CITY’s Chris Durkin crossed the ball into the box towards forward João Klauss. Klauss headed the ball to McSorley, who took a shot on the volley into the top middle of San Jose’s net, giving CITY the lead early.

In minute 19, Durkin settled an attempted clear by San Jose and again sent a high ball into San Jose’s box, this time to McSorley. McSorley, holding back a San Jose defender, headed the ball to Marcel Hartel, who took a second touch shot, doubling CITY’s lead.

San Jose attempted to pull back in minute 30 after they earned and converted a penalty kick.

However, McSorley sealed the game in minute 45 after heading in a cross that Hartel sent in across the front of San Jose’s goal.

“Yeah, it’s definitely a special night, and probably one that I’ll talk about for a while,” McSorley said after the match. “I remember I scored with my brother in the state final in high school, so you know, it’s up there with that one. So yeah, it’s a special night for sure.”

McSorley, while having three goal contributions, also prevented a San Jose goal with a goal-line clearance to prevent San Jose from coming back.

CITY’s keeper, Roman Bürki, made nine saves, ensuring CITY kept their lead throughout the match.

“I‘m just very, very proud of the players,” Interim Headcoach David Critchley said after the match. “First and foremost, what we’re starting to really see now is the process that we have talked about for several weeks, the process is now starting to become results as well for us. So I was very proud of them tonight.”

CITY’s next match will be at Energizer Park on Sept. 27 against LAFC. That match will start at 7:30 p.m.