Löwen’s Late Winner Lifts CITY past San Jose in long-awaited victory

                by Henry Chappell

By the time Eduard Löwen stepped to the penalty spot in stoppage time, the tension inside Energizer Park was almost unbearable.

The match had been gritty, and—at times—had some boiling points not just due to the heat. But with a deep breath and a low, clinical strike to the bottom corner, Löwen sealed a 2–1 win for CITY, and the home crowd erupted.

It was the first victory in MLS play for CITY since Mar. 15 against Seattle, and the match finished dramatically for a game that had demanded patience.

"That match was tough, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves because we wanted this win so badly," Lowen said. "The goal came out of nowhere... But then Conrad [Wallem] delivered a great ball, and Simon did an amazing job to win the penalty. That changed everything. It felt amazing to win that game."

For much of the first half, both sides poked and prodded, searching for rhythm. But in the 41st minute, St. Louis found a crack. Löwen, with a moment of vision, lofted a perfectly weighted ball over the top of San Jose's back line.

João Klauss timed his run, shrugged off a defender, and finished with precision. It was his third goal of the season, and it gave CITY the lead heading into the break.

"That's what (the forwards are) here to do—score goals, create chances," Critchley said. "Klauss had a few great moments early, then got his goal. I was so happy for him."

San Jose stayed in the fight and found their moment late. In the 83rd minute, after a flurry in the box, Josef Martinez tucked away a close-range equalizer. It felt like a gut punch—and felt like another game that CITY sputtered out in the later minutes.

But then came the response.

Just minutes later, substitute forward Simon Becher chased down a loose ball in the box and was clipped by a defender—clear penalty. Löwen stepped up with full confidence and slotted it home in the 92nd minute, restoring CITY's lead and all but securing the win.

The whistle blew minutes later, and with it came a wave of firsts. Interim head coach David Critchley collected his first win since recently taking over.

"Belief is the one word we're going to have around here," Critchley said. " I believed in the team even at 1-1. We accepted nothing but three points today—and the players went out and earned it."

Löwen recorded his first assist of the year along with his second goal. And 19-year-old fullback Joey Zalinsky made his first career MLS start.

Ultimately, on a humid afternoon at Energizer Park, CITY earned what they had long struggled for in MLS play— a victory.