St Louis CITY SC midfielder Eduard Lowen (10) scores a late penalty kick to lead St. Louis CITY SC over the San Jose Earthquakes (2-1) on May 31 at Energizer Park. (Source: West Newsmagazine/Lou Countryman photo)

The third season of CITY SC has been a complete disaster, following a successful inaugural season two years ago, during which the team was the top-seeded team in the Western Conference, only to lose in the first round to Sporting Kansas City. A year later, the team went through a losing streak, which resulted in the dismissal of coach Bradley Carnell during the middle of the season. The team failed to make it to the postseason, and in response, they turned to Olof Mellberg. However, the team’s performance worsened, leading to the longest winless streak in the franchise’s young history.

Saturday’s 2-1 home victory over San Jose halted an 11-match winless run (0-8-3) in league play. João Klauss and Eduard Lowen each scored their second goals of the season, with Lowen scoring the game-winning penalty kick goal during stoppage time. Interim coach David Critchley made some key changes in the lineup, which resulted in a first-half goal by Joao Klauss to give CITY SC a 1-0 lead. San Jose tied the game in the second half after Josef Martinez leveled with a goal in the 81st minute. Eduard Lowen scored the game-winning penalty kick in the 92nd minute and gave CITY SC its first victory since March 15, when they beat Seattle 1-0. Most importantly, CITY’s offense got rolling with multiple goals for the 4th time this season.

“I tried to enjoy the moment,” Critchley said in his postgame press conference. “I’ve talked to the players about it since day one, it’s about having more smiles around here, enjoying our job, enjoying our work. So, going into a packed stadium with great fans, the emotions can get carried away. But I took a moment before kickoff to just enjoy it, but once the ball got rolling, the game started, and it was all about getting three points today.” Critchley’s task will be challenged when they go on the road against the Portland Timbers Saturday Night, but Saturday’s victory might go a long way in saving the club’s season.