St Louis City beat Houston Dynamo 2-1 in MLS, with their 3-4-3 proving more efficient than Houston’s 4-2-3-1 despite sustained pressure from the visitors. Houston attempted 18 shots to St Louis’s nine, but both sides placed four efforts on target, underlining how the hosts restricted the quality of the Dynamo’s openings while making better use of their own. The underlying numbers were closely matched, with St Louis recording 1.20 xG against Houston’s 1.16, so the decisive difference came in execution and goalkeeping rather than a major creative advantage. Simon Becher scored one of the home side’s goals, providing a focal point for a front three supported by wide midfielders in the 3-4-3. St Louis also benefited from a 75% goalkeeper save rate, while Houston’s was 50%, a contrast that helped protect the hosts’ narrow advantage. Houston’s greater shot volume and slight territorial edge did not translate into superior accuracy, whereas St Louis balanced compact defending with enough attacking threat to secure the points under referee Alexis Da Silva. The result gives St Louis City a valuable MLS win.