First-place St. Louis City SC proves dream MLS start was no fluke

In an MLS season that's been (perhaps rightfully) overshadowed by the arrival of Lionel Messi, St. Louis has proven itself to be a savvy, exciting and altogether worthy member of the American soccer establishment. 

The club began its life in MLS with five straight wins, scoring an average of three goals per game. 

"It's memorable," coach Bradley Carnell admitted after his team's unprecedented fifth straight victory, via goal.com. "It's something that I think every player will remember for the rest of their lives. It hasn't happened yet, five wins from an expansion team. Even five wins in a row in a league for teams that have been here for a while."

St. Louis's secret weapon this season has been its commitment to a singular style, one that prioritizes a high-press attack over all else. It's a risky strategy in a league as physical and defensively aggressive as MLS, but St. Louis's success proves that it works ... provided every player is on the same page.

To make sure that remains the case, Carnell hasn't splashed cash on big-name signings. Instead, he's focused on lesser-known players with an interest in his methods and an endless capacity for growth. It's strategically responsible--and financially responsible, too. 

"We haven't just opened up the checkbooks and signed three $12 million players," Carnell told the Guardian. "I feel we've got a pretty good roster together without going into the market deeply."

That roster — united by its underdog status and commitment to a high-pressing style — has gelled together faster than anyone could've imagined, egged on by the vocal support of the St. Louis community. 

For them, these players are the culmination of years of soccer support in St. Louis, most of it outside the upper echelons of the American game. Just being here — in MLS, finally, after all these years — is a victory in itself.

"We've been around 13 years and seen every level of the pro-soccer pyramid in the United States," St. Louis fan group leader Mitch Morice told St. Louis Magazine.

"This is the pinnacle. It's going to be exciting to see how this team builds out."