February 13 (1974)

In an indoor exhibition game that will influence the history of soccer in the United States, the Moscow Red Army team defeats the St. Louis Stars of the NASL 11-4 before 12,241 fans at the Arena. The match in St. Louis is the last of three indoor dates the outdoor Moscow Red Army play in North America against NASL outdoor teams.  The Red Army’s tour will be considered the birth of modern indoor soccer, and will lead to the formation of the Major Indoor Soccer League in October 1977. Denny Vaninger, who scores all of the Stars’ goals, will earn his first of three caps with the U.S. National Team and will score the only U.S. goal in a 3-1 loss to Mexico on Sept. 5, 1974. Vaninger will score 22 goals outdoors for the Stars from 1973-77 and will add three more in 1978-79 with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. He will score three goals in 10 appearances with the indoor St. Louis Steamers in the 1980-81 and 1982-83 seasons.