April 26 (1936)

A heartbreaking finish spoils a dominant performance by the St. Louis Shamrocks in the first game of the finals of the National Challenge Cup (today’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup) against German American FC of Philadelphia. Playing under the lights at Walsh Stadium, 5100 Oakland Ave., the Shamrocks — essentially the same team as the Stix Baer & Fuller and Central Brewers clubs that won the National Challenge Cup each of the previous three seasons — appear headed to a 2-1 victory in the first of a two-game series that will be decided on total goals. As the match enters its final minute, Philadelphia’s Bill Fielder passes to Robert Regan, “left winger, who was wide open,” future U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame journalist Dent McSkimming will write in the next day’s St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “He advanced 10 yards with no one molesting him, crossed the ball to the far goal post where Fiedler racing in fast, beat [goalkeeper Jose] Rodriguez with his head, tying the score.” The Shamrocks’ last-minute letdown erases an otherwise first-class effort in which the Shamrocks hold a 10-3 advantage in corner kicks and, in McSkimming’s estimation, “had control of last night’s play for almost 75 percent of the time.” Featuring a starting 11 with four future U.S. Soccer Hall of Famers — Billy Gonsalves, Alec McNab, Werner “Scotty” Nilsen and Bert Patenaude — the Shamrocks score in the eighth minute on a goal from Nilsen assisted by Gonsalves. Ray Richards responds just two minutes later to tie the score. Patenaude sets up Nilsen for his second and seemingly game-winning goal in the 68th minute. The late letdown sends the Shamrocks to Philadelphia on the ropes for game two on May 3. There will be no question of the better team in the second match as Philadelphia will win 3-0 and end St. Louis’s three-year grip on the Cup.