July 16 (1967)

It’s a big day for the St. Louis Stars’ Rudi Kolbl. Kolbl scores the game’s only goal as the Stars defeat the Pittsburgh Phantoms at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh before 5,414 fans in a nationally televised match. The goal lifts him into the scoring lead in the first-year National Professional Soccer League with 27 points on 10 goals and seven assists. Playing without future U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Pat McBride, who is on weekend Army Reserve duty, the Stars score in the 37th minute after Pittsburgh goalkeeper Alfred DeBono collides with the Stars’ Thor Beck. Kolbl boots in the loose ball. A native of Germany, the 30-year-old Kolbl will finish fourth in league scoring with 36 points on 14 goals and eight assists for the Stars in 1967. His goal production will drop off to four with the Stars in 1968, when the NPSL merges with the United Soccer Association to form the North American Soccer League. Kolbl will return to Germany to play for the Bundesliga’s TSV 1860 Munchen in 1969-70, his final years in pro soccer. Kolbl began his career in 1956 with TSV 1860 Munchen, where he scored 55 goals in 82 matches from 1956-60. He played professionally in Italy with Calcio Padova and Genoa CFC before signing with the Stars.