December 28 (1884)

On a day best spent indoors, about 500 fans brave the rain to watch the second international soccer match in St. Louis history. Players from the Toronto area, representing the Western Canada Football Association, defeat “the best team St. Louis can put on the field,” according to the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, at Sportsman’s Park. The Canadians win, 5-3, in less than ideal conditions against a squad of players formed from two local teams, the Hibernians and the Thistles. The last 15 minutes are played in “heavy showers.” Nevertheless, the Globe-Democrat calls the contest “the best football event that ever took place in St. Louis.” The newspaper lauds the team tactics employed by the Canadians, who expertly switch the ball to an unmarked player whenever St. Louis opponents gang up on the dribbler. The goal-scorers aren’t identified. The match is the second and last played by the Canadians in St. Louis. On Dec. 25, they defeated the Thistles, 9-0. The Christmas Day match is noted as the first international soccer game played in the United States, according to the Society of American Soccer History. Read here for more on the Canadians’ two games in St. Louis.