Aug. 12 (1973)

In his first appearance for the U.S. National Team, future U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Al Trost (right) scores on an assist from fellow St. Louisan and St. Louis Stars teammate Gene Geimer (left) as the United States surprises 1972 Olympic champion Poland, 1-0, in a friendly in New Britain, Conn. At the time, the victory was considered second only to the U.S. triumph over England in the 1950 World Cup, with five St. Louisans in the starrting lineup, as the biggest upset in U.S. soccer history. Poland was one of the world’s top teams in the early 1970s (and will finish third in the 1974 World Cup). “Gene Geimer laid off a nice ball to me and I half-volleyed it from 20 yards out into the upper corner,” Trost will tell Dave Lange in a 2010 interview. “I guess it’s the shot that goes down in history. I’m amazed that it has gotten so much recognition because it was a friendly game, but they had their regular players there and I’m sure they were playing to win. It happened in an area of town that was Polish. I think they came out to see Poland; they didn’t come out to see us. So I think we won over some fans in that game.”