March 13 (1966)

The Kickers spring a big surprise on favored White Star in the Missouri Amateur Cup semifinals by notching a 4-1 upset in the mud at Magdalen Field before an overflow crowd. The Kickers score what their manager, Tony Kuster, calls “picture goals.” The first comes on what St. Louis Post-Dispatch sportswriter Harold Flachsbart describes as a “masterful over-the-head kick with his back to the goal” by Joe Spiess, a Kickers’ commuter from Peoria, Ill. Local lad Paul Pisani scores twice and German import Uwe Burmeister nets the fourth. White Star, the champions of the Missouri Federation League, get on the board courtesy of a penalty-kick goal by future NASL professional and U.S. National Teamer Carl Gentile. Gentile’s teammates include future U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Pat McBride. In the day’s other semifinal, Kutis routs Holy Rosary 6-1 on two goals from Jerry Mueller and one each from Fred Vasquez, Larry Hausmann, Tom Held and Don Range. Kutis will defeat the Kickers 1-0 in the Missouri Amateur Cup final, thanks to Richie Mueth’s goal, on March 27.