Expansion St. Louis City SC already making history in MLS

St. Louis City SC could not have dreamed of a better start to its debut season in the MLS. With a 2-1 win over the Portland Timbers on Saturday, the expansion team remains undefeated.

St. Louis has equaled the Seattle Sounders' first-season record of 3-0-0, and they did so by coming from behind in each win—the first time in league history a club has rallied to win its first three matches.

"To show little moments of growth, every time I feel we've hit a speed bump, I feel we get stronger," coach Bradley Carnell told the media after the Portland victory. "This will only serve us well down the line."

Carnell's St. Louis squad plays a chaotic, high-pressing game that is causing big problems for opposing defenses. Several of its goals have come from misfired opposition backpasses, and while those turnovers can look accidental to the casual fan, they're nearly always driven by St. Louis's relentless high line. 

That strategy can backfire if the opponent gets behind you—St. Louis has conceded in each of its three matches—but the expansion club believes that it's worth the risk.

"This style of play is not easy," Carnell said. "This style of play demands a lot of commitment, not just to the philosophy, but to each other as teammates."

St. Louis' head of scouting Lutz Pfannenstiel came to the United States from Germany's Hoffenheim. club, which deploys a similar style. He has kept an eye out for players to fit the high press system.

One potential player is Liverpool's Roberto Firmino, a Brazilian star who recently announced his intention to leave Anfield in the summer, Several MLS clubs are lining up bids for his services.

Firmino began his European career at Hoffenheim with the help of Pfannenstiel, fueling speculation that he could land in St. Louis.

Unbeaten and in the running for a Champions League-winning striker? Not bad for MLS debutants.