Alexandru Mățan
LOU
Left Winger
Center Midfielder
Half-Space Orchestrator
Aug 29, 1999 (27)
Right
5'6"
134 lb
Dealing with knock
Matan suffered a minor knock in training which was enough to leave him out of the midweek US Open Cup final against Columbus Crew, Tom Bogert of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Matan is not expected to miss many games, so he could be back for league action soon, although it will depend on the speed of his recovery. He had served as a regular presence on the left wing over the last few weeks, and that should be his role as soon as he's fully fit. Carlo Holse and Sangbin Jeong will remain active in case Matan fails to overcome his blow.
Gets an assist
Alexandru Matan assisted once to go with two shots (zero on goal), three crosses (two accurate) and two corners in Sunday's 6-2 victory against Los Angeles Galaxy.
Analysis: Matan was accurate with his service and had good volume, so it's nice to see him get rewarded with an assist. The attacker will need to be this clinical if he wants to be part of a St. Louis scoring effort against Vancouver, a side that has only given up 30 goals on the year.
Pair of assists Saturday
Matan assisted twice to go with two shots (one on goal), four crosses (one accurate) and three corners in Saturday's 3-1 win over Toronto FC.
Analysis: Matan assisted his side's first two goals of Saturday's match, one on either side of halftime. He now has four assists since joining the club in August, all of which have come in his last six appearances. He was subbed off in the 78th minute for Daniel Edelman.
In squad Saturday
Matan (undisclosed) is on the bench for the weekend's clash with Minnesota United.
Analysis: Matan didn't suffer a serious injury from the problem that forced him to leave in his last appearance. He'll consequently have another chance to produce, although as a backup option this time, ending a run of four straight MLS starts. If he replaces Simon Becher or Carlo Holse in central attacking midfield during the game, Matan will look to increase his season tallies of four shots, 19 crosses, eight chances created and two assists over seven games played.
Forced off with apparent injury
Matan (undisclosed) created three chances and won one tackle in Wednesday's 2-2 draw against Portland before being forced off with an apparent injury.
Analysis: Matan had provided the assist for Simon Becher's equalizer in the recent win over Vancouver, his second of the season and part of a strong stretch since transferring from Greece in July. This latest withdrawal is a new concern to monitor, and further clarity on the severity of the issue should emerge as St. Louis continues its season.
Assists at Vancouver
Alexandru Matan assisted once to go with two crosses (zero accurate) and one corner in Saturday's 3-1 win versus Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Analysis: Matan created Simon Becher's equalizer in the 23rd minute with his second assist in the campaign. He also led St Louis in crosses and took one of their two corner kicks. That was his third start in six appearances since transferring from Greece in July.
Assists in win
Alexandru Matan assisted once to go with zero corners and two chances created in Saturday's 2-1 victory against Houston Dynamo. In addition, he was given a yellow card in the 27th minute.
Analysis: Matan provided a single assist during the narrow 2-1 win over Houston. The winger was a threat throughout and created a pair of chances, managing to continue to be a threat even after an early yellow card. Matan should remain a key part of the midfield moving forward.
Signs with Saint Louis
Matan has signed with St. Louis City SC as a free agent through the 2028-29 season, with a club option for 2029-30, his new club announced.
Analysis: Matan spent four seasons in MLS with Columbus from 2021-24, recording six goals and 15 assists in 101 appearances and helping the club win the 2023 MLS Cup. That 2023 season was his most productive, finishing tied for the team lead with a career-best 11 assists, and he added his first professional hat trick in a 2024 win over New England while also winning the Leagues Cup that year. He most recently played in Greece with Panetolikos, posting six goals and three assists in 40 appearances across competitions, after beginning his career as a 16-year-old with Romanian club FC Viitorul Constanta, where he won a league title, Super Cup, and league cup. Sporting director Corey Wray pointed to his creativity, ball progression, and comfort in one-on-one situations.
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