It was a night that will live in St. Louis CITY SC lore.
A 6-2 win over the LA Galaxy on Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire extended the club’s unbeaten run to 20 games across all competitions – an MLS record CITY now share with the 2016 Red Bulls.
Summer signing Carlo Holse stole the show with a hat trick in the first 21 minutes to bring Energizer Park to life.
After just one win in 10 games to start the season, St. Louis CITY’s 20-game unbeaten run is one of the surprise stories of the season.
Sunday's blowout win over the Galaxy was the best way to reach the milestone in front of their home fans.
“All the credit goes to the players, showing that level of consistency and the way they’ve worked, the way they’ve reflected on each game, and the way they showed up the next one. It’s been outstanding,” head coach Yoann Damet said postgame.
“For me, it's crazy. A 20-game unbeaten streak is just a crazy thought,” said club-record signing Rafael Navarro, who had 2g/2a in the win.
“We're fighting for special things here. We're fighting for trophies. So I think you know if we can keep going in this way, I think good things will happen."
The Holse show
Holse recorded the second-fastest hat trick from the start of a match in MLS history and became the fifth player in MLS history to record a hat trick inside 30 minutes.
Although he’s better known as a creator, the summer arrival from Turkish Süper Lig side Samsunspor showed that goalscoring is in his arsenal.
“I’ve always had an eye for goal. I played as a striker on the youth teams, so I want to score goals. I want to assist my teammates,” said Holse.
Holse's hat trick was the first of his career, and to make the night even more memorable, he did it in front of his family.
“My parents are here, as I told you before. They're up there. My wife is here. My two kids are here,” he told Apple TV. “It's amazing. I couldn't have dreamed of anything better when I woke up today.”
Navarro remains red-hot
Navarro told MLSSoccer.com earlier this week that he wants to “be among the greats,” and his performance on Sunday was a good step in that direction.
The Brazilian striker's 2g/2a against the Galaxy showed the level St. Louis’ attack elevates when he’s in it.
Navarro has 7g/3a in his six games for CITY since arriving for a club-record $12 million via a cash-for-player trade with the Colorado Rapids. He left the pitch to a standing ovation from the home crowd in the 80th minute alongside Holse.
“I feel right at home. The staff, the players, they have welcomed me with open arms since the beginning,” said Navarro.
“I've felt very good since the beginning here, and I think it shows on the field, on the training grounds,” he added.
Top-of-the-table clash
CITY's historic run of form has them on 50 points, one behind first-place Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
They'll look to break the unbeaten record across all competitions in a top-of-the-table Western Conference showdown with the 'Caps on Wednesday (8:30 pm ET | Apple TV) at Energizer Park.
