Hosei Kijima signs contract in the

Hosei Kijima’s contract with City SC was announced in the morning, and in the evening, he scored the game-winning goal.

Kijima, the team’s top pick in the draft who entered the game as a sub in the 85th minute, scored in the 90th, following up his own blocked shot to put the rebound into the far side of the net as City SC beat Houston 2-1 on Tuesday night in the first leg of their two-game CONCACAF Champions Cup series. To describe Kijima as excited would be an understatement, and his teammates shared the joy as they swarmed him in the corner.

Kijima, the 17th overall pick in the draft, signed a one-year contract with three option years. He came to America from Japan when he was 12 years old to attend the IMG Academy in Florida to advance his soccer career. He then played at Wake Forest and had nine goals and 10 assists in 63 games over four seasons. He was a second-team all-ACC selection as a senior. He has lived up to expectations in training camp and is also known for being an analytical student of the game who did a complete technical analysis of City SC before meeting with the team for his pre-draft interview. He was a midfielder in college but can also play at either outside back.

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The score of the game in a series like this is more important than the result, and now all City SC will need is a at least a tie in Game 2 next Tuesday in Houston. Had Kijima not scored, City SC would have needed a win or a tie greater than 1-1 because away goals are the first tiebreaker.

Up until Kijima’s goal, it looked like the magic may not quite be there for City SC. Just like in the club’s first game in its first season, Tim Parker scored City SC’s first goal, again on a header, this time in the 62nd minute, as City SC took a 1-0 lead. It was that scenario a year ago that started City SC’s magic start to the season, with a five-game winning streak.

City SC’s goal came amid a flurry of scoring chances, but it was the only one it could get to go in. Klauss, Samuel Adeniran and Indiana Vassilev all had shots that either required a big save from Houston goalkeeper Steve Clark or hit the frame of the goal.

Parker put City SC ahead when he came forward to head in a free kick from Vassilev, who was playing with a right arm he had hurt diving on goal for a scoring chance a few minutes earlier. He was subbed out immediately after the Parker goal.

City SC forward Samuel Adeniran goes up for a header as Dynamo FC defenders Tate Schmitt and Micael Silva surround him on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in the first half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup match at CityPark.

Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch

But 10 minutes later, Houston’s Ibrahim Aliyu brought the ball down the right side into the box and was able to get the ball across to Sebastian Kowalczyk for the tying goal.

Neither team scored in the first half, though for a long while it looked like Houston had. In the 25th minute, Aliyu got lost behind City SC’s defense and took a pass from Coco Carrasquilla for a goal from about 5 yards out. But after a video review that lasted about four minutes, it was determined that Carrasquilla had been offside when he got the initial pass on the attack, and the goal was erased.

It was the second big loss for Houston. Just before that play, Houston forward Sebastian Ferreira, one of the team’s designated players, went down clutching his leg and eventually was carried off on a stretcher and taken straight to the dressing room. Houston had already lost two of its better goal scorers to injury during training camp, and this is one more hit.

City SC got the ball into the box multiple times in the first half but couldn’t figure out what to do with the ball after that and often didn’t get a shot out of the opportunity. City SC had five shots in the first half, but none got as far as Houston’s goalkeeper.

St. Louis City SC defender Tim Parker scored the team’s first goal in 2023, and again in 2024. He speaks with the press, carrying his son Rory Parker, after the win over Houston Dynamo on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. Video by Beth O’Malley

Beth O’Malley

Hackworth named club’s 1st technical director

John Hackworth, one of the first hires on the sporting side at City SC, has been promoted to technical director for the club, and the team has hired a new assistant coach — Rainer Kraft, most recently the sporting director of a club in Ghana — to replace him.

Also joining the assistant coaching staff is Mitch Hildebrandt, who had been the team’s performance analyst last season. John Miglarese, originally hired as the coach of the club’s under-19 UPSL squad who became an assistant coach with the first team last season, is now an assistant coach with City2.

Hackworth’s promotion straightens out a situation that even he admitted he couldn’t explain. Hackworth was originally hired as the club’s director of coaching, and he kept that title even while serving as head coach of City2 in its first season and as Carnell’s assistant in City SC’s first season. That created a situation where he had a title that suggested he was Carnell’s boss while also being his assistant. As technical director, Hackworth will do what he was originally hired to do: work with the coaches from the academy level on up to the club’s on-field approach to games.

Elvir Kafedzic and Alex Langer will return as assistants, with Langer working with the goalkeepers. Jarryd Phillips returns as the director of sports performance.

Other than the hiring of Kraft, the changes have been in effect throughout training camp.

Kraft began as a physiotherapist, and it was in that role with German club Stuttgart he worked with Carnell, who was a player at Stuttgart. Kraft became a coach and worked in China, Iran and Luxembourg, as well as Ghana. He has a UEFA Pro coaching license. He will join the club once he gets his work permit.

Hildebrandt was a goalkeeper in the USL and also in MLS, serving as the backup to Brad Guzan in Atlanta the year the team won the MLS Cup. He was on the field for practices last season but wasn’t on the field for games.

3rd-round pick signs to City2Aside from Kijima, City SC also signed its other draft pick, third-round selection Brendan McSorley to a two-year contract with City2, its MLS Next Pro development team, with a club option for 2026.

McSorley, a forward at Providence, led the Friars with 11 goals and 23 points last season, making the all-Big East first team. He also has been impressive in training camp.

The 106-year-old building on 21st Street is just a short golf cart ride from the soccer stadium in Downtown West. Video by Steph Kukuljan, Post-Dispatch

Steph Kukuljan

City FC defeats Houston Dynamo FC 2-1 in CONCACAF match

City SC hosts Houston Dynamo in CONCACAF game

City SC players, Tim Parker, Roman Burki and Hosei Kijima celebrate their 2-1 victory on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, over the Houston Dynamo FC in the CONCACAD Champions Cup match at CityPark in St. Louis, Mo. Parker and Kijima scored both of St. Louis’ goals.Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com

Christian Gooden

City SC hosts Houston Dynamo in CONCACAF game

City SC defender Tomas Totland competes for possession with Dynamo FC defender Brad Smith on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in the second half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup game at CityPark in St. Louis, Mo. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com

Christian Gooden

City SC hosts Houston Dynamo in CONCACAF game

City SC forward Samuel Adeniran goes up for a header as Dynamo FC defenders Tate Schmitt and Micael Silva surround him on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in the first half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup match at CityPark.

Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch

City SC hosts Houston Dynamo in CONCACAF game

City SC midfielder Chris Durkin and Dynamo FC forward Ibrahim Aliyu recover after colliding heads on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in the first half of a game at CityPark in St. Louis, Mo. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com

Christian Gooden

City SC hosts Houston Dynamo in CONCACAF game

City SC midfielder Aziel Jackson tries to advance past Dynamo FC midfielder Griffin Dorsey on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in the first half of a game between St. Louis and Houston at CityPark in St. Louis, Mo. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com

Christian Gooden

City SC hosts Houston Dynamo in CONCACAF game

City SC defender Tomas Totland fall to the turf after colliding with Dynamo FC midfielder Sebastian Kowalczyk on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in the second half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup game at CityPark in St. Louis, Mo. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com

Christian Gooden

City SC hosts Houston Dynamo in CONCACAF game

Dynamo FC midfielder Sebastian Kowalczyk shoots past City SC goalie Roman Burki on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, to score their only goal in the second half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup game at CityPark in St. Louis, Mo. City C beat Houston 2-1. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com

Christian Gooden

City SC hosts Houston Dynamo in CONCACAF game

City SC defender Tomas Totland slide tackles Dynamo FC defender Brad Smith on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in the second half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup game at CityPark in St. Louis, Mo. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com

Christian Gooden

City SC hosts Houston Dynamo in CONCACAF game

City SC midfielder Hosei Kijima slides in celebration with defender Tomas Totland on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, after scoring the go-ahead goal in the second half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup game against the Houston Dynamo FC at CityPark in St. Louis, Mo. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com

Christian Gooden

City SC hosts Houston Dynamo in CONCACAF game

City SC forward Joao Klauss and Tomas Totland watch as Dynamo FC goalie Steve Clark misses a shot on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, by Hosei Kijima in the second half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup game at CityPark in St. Louis, Mo. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com

Christian Gooden

City SC hosts Houston Dynamo in CONCACAF game

City SC defender Tim Parker and Dynamo FC midfielder Griffin Dorsey compete for possession on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, after scoring a goal in the first half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup game at CityPark in St. Louis, Mo. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com

Christian Gooden

City SC hosts Houston Dynamo in CONCACAF game

City SC defender Tim Parker acknowledges the crowd on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, after scoring a goal in the first half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup game against the Houston Dynamo FC at CityPark in St. Louis, Mo. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com

Christian Gooden

City SC hosts Houston Dynamo in CONCACAF game

City SC defender Tim Parker and Dynamo FC forward Gabe Segal elevate to claim a high ball on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in the second half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup game at CityPark in St. Louis, Mo. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com

Christian Gooden

City SC hosts Houston Dynamo in CONCACAF game

City SC goalie Roman Burki gestures to fans on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in the second half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup game against the Houston Dynamo FC at CityPark in St. Louis, Mo. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com

Christian Gooden

City SC hosts Houston Dynamo in CONCACAF game

City SC Chris Durkin and Dynamo FC midfielder Brooklyn Raines compete for possession on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in the second half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup game at CityPark in St. Louis, Mo. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com

Christian Gooden

City SC hosts Houston Dynamo in CONCACAF game

City SC defender Tomas Totland slide tackles Dynamo FC forward Ibrahim Aliyu on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in the second half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup game at CityPark in St. Louis, Mo. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com

Christian Gooden

City SC hosts Houston Dynamo in CONCACAF game

City SC goalie Roman Burki makes a save on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in the first half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup game against the Houston Dynamo FC at CityPark in St. Louis, Mo. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com

Christian Gooden

City SC hosts Houston Dynamo in CONCACAF game

City SC forward Joao Klauss slide tackles Dynamo FC midfielder Coco Carrasquilla on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in the second half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup game at CityPark in St. Louis, Mo. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com

Christian Gooden

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