June 25, 1995 – Alexi Lalas signs MLS contract
Post by frankdellapa@gmail.com
The New England Revolution were among the MLS teams bidding for Lalas, who was preparing to play in Copa America for the U.S. and for the 1995-96 Serie A season with Padova. The Revolution already had defender Mike Burns lined up for the league’s inaugural season in 1996, after Burns became the second U.S. national team player (following Tab Ramos) to sign with MLS.
On the same day, the U.S. and Colombia were matched for the first time since the 1994 World Cup, when the U.S. surprisingly advanced, partly thanks to an Andres Escobar own goal. This time, Burns headed a Jorge Bermudez header off the line with 10 seconds remaining as the U.S. and Colombia drew, 0-0, in a U.S. Cup match.
June 25, 1995 — U.S. 0:0 Colombia, U.S. Cup at Rutgers University Stadium (Att.: 36,126)
The U.S., which defeated Nigeria, 3-2, at Foxboro Stadium on June 11, 1995 and Mexico (4-0), won the tournament with a 2-0-1 (7 points) record. The Colombians, who played this game without Fastino Asprilla (coach Hernan Dario Gomez said he was saving Asprilla for Copa America), finished with a 1-0-2 (5 points) record, scoring once and holding three opponents scoreless. Besides Burns and Lalas, three other future Revolution players were in the starting lineups: John Harkes, Eric Wynalda and Leonel Alvarez (Colombia); and former Southern Connecticut State defender Brian Bliss entered as a late substitute.
TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY