July 14 (2003)

The U.S. men defeat Martinique, 2-0, in the CONCACAF Gold Cup Tournament, largely through the efforts of the St. Louis duo of Brian McBride and Steve Ralston. McBride, a Chicago-area native who set career scoring records at St. Louis University from 1990-93, scores both goals on assists from Ralston, a St. Louis native. The goals come four minutes apart. In the 39th minute, McBride heads in Ralston’s cross, then knocks in a short pass from Ralston to double the U.S. lead. The goals give McBride 23 for his U.S. Men’s National Team career and move him into third place among all-time USMNT goal-scorers. “I cross the ball, and he’s such a presence in there,” Ralston says of McBride after the game. McBride will make his last USMNT appearance in 2006 and will finish with 30 goals in 95 appearances. At the club level, he will play for a half-dozen U.S. and foreign teams, most notably with Fulham in the English Premier League. He will be inducted into the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame in 2014. Ralston will play in 36 matches and will score four goals for the USMNT from 1997-2007. He will play 15 seasons in MLS and will score more MLS goals, 76, than any other St. Louisan except Taylor Twellman and Will Bruin.