After a frustrating offensive start to the 2024 season, it felt like St. Louis CITY SC needed a hero. Or, at least, someone who could help the club find the net.
In Saturday’s 2-0 victory over New York City FC, Célio Pompeu was up to the task.
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Pompeu seemed to reach a new level as he ran at NYCFC defenders during the first half. With the match scoreless through 34 minutes, Pompeu floated onto a ball knocked loose by Eduard Löwen in the midfield and danced through multiple New York defenders, before finally slipping his shot into the back of the goal.
For CITY, the early strike was a relief after a run of offensively-challenged outings. For Pompeu, it was another sign of the upside he can bring to head coach Bradley Carnell’s lineup this year.
“When I have the chance to start, I want to do my best,” Célio said after the match. “I want to prove to everybody I can start, I can play, I can help the team in many ways, and that’s what I do.”
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Pompeu seems like the ideal player for Carnell’s approach to the game; he’s a player who works hard, has something to prove, and has the skills to prove it. Saturday was a clear illustration of his potential—and it might just be a sign of things to come for Pompeu in Year 2 for CITY.
“We are always pushing Célio,” Carnell said. “It’s a project, and Célio knows where he started. He knows where he is currently and he knows where he wants it to go.”
Carnell turns to Célio when the team needs an extra push. Just think of the MLS Cup Playoffs last year. With the season on the line at Kansas City, Pompeu came off the bench and delivered a beautiful strike from distance in the waning moments of the series’ second game. There were, of course, additional times during the season when Pompeu rewarded his coach’s faith, and he finished 2023 as one of the better MLS dribblers. One year later, that’s still a strength for Pompeu.
On Saturday, CITY’s second goal came after Pompeu found himself running with another ball in transition. This time, he slotted it down to Sam Adeniran, who powered the ball into the back of the net.
“We needed somebody on that frontline,” Carnell said. “Someone who has a bit of fire in their belly. You can hear when he wins a duel; he’s so emotional about it, and he really intimidates the opponent sometimes. It was good to see.”
Pompeu’s attitude is contagious on and off the pitch. His energy and electric style of play complement his jovial personality in the interview room.
“It feels amazing,” Pompeu said after the win. “We finally show our principles, how we want to perform as a team defending together and attacking together. So, it feels great. What a night.”
Pompeu earned a spot on the MLS Team of the Matchday for his work against NYCFC, another highlight for the Brazilian, who embarked on an unorthodox journey to get here. A former college standout at VCU, Pompeu spent 2022 with CITY2 in MLS Next Pro before earning a first-team contract last year. To get Pompeu in the system, CITY didn’t need to negotiate any high transfer fees or lure him away from Europe. At its most basic level, the agreement was simply a player and a club taking a chance on one another.
To his credit, Pompeu has seized the opportunity and further developed his game. He’s become a meaningful contributor, a player whose unique blend of skill and quickness add a different dimension to CITY’s team. And, considering his roots with the first CITY2 squad, he’s also among the longest-tenured members of the roster.
“It’s crazy to think about but, yeah, I’m a veteran in St. Louis,” Pompeu said ahead of the season. “People know me now. They know what I’m all about … I just want to play. I want to be used. I want to start more. I want to help the team. The only thing I can do is play hard, train hard, and do my part. Of course, I want to score. Of course, I want to win and help.”
On Saturday, he did just that. But he also put forth a performance that should push him into the starting lineup more often. And, in the end, that’s really what he wants.
“Ultimately,” he said, “I just want to play.”
