April 19, 1927 – Boston SC 3:2 Nacional (Uruguay), Pearl St. Stadium – Malden, Mass. (Att.: 7,000)

Patriots’ Day game interrupted by on-field brawl. On April 18, Gov. Alvan Fuller received the reigning Copa America and Olympic champions at the State House (Fuller was also being petitioned to review the Sacco & Vanzetti case). The Boston Marathon was conducted in 82-degree heat. Only three runners broke three-hour mark, Clarence De Mar winning in 2 hours, 40 minutes.

The game was interrupted by a fight shortly after Boston took the lead on a McArthur penalty kick past Andres Mazali with 10 minutes remaining. “A regular riot” ensued, according to George M. Collins’ report in The Boston Globe:

“It was a hot afternoon and the hot temperaments of the Olympic champions became pronounced as the game progressed. The climax came when Cea deliberately kicked McIntyre and then tried to slam the Boston captain.”

Things escalated after Scarone struck the first blow and started the fracas, according to the Globe. The next day, Uruguay announced the suspension of Pedro Petrone for “kicking a player.”

Reports later noted this was actually Club Nacional de Football, which supplied the Uruguay national team with many of its players. In any case, Uruguay would go on to win the 1928 Olympic title and the first World Cup in 1930, several of the players on the ’27 tour included on the team: Jose Leandro Andrade, Hector ”Manco” Castro, Pedro Cea, Lorenzo Fernandez, Emilio Recoba, Zoilo Saldombide, Santos Urdinaran, Petrone and Hector “Magico” Scarone. Boston’s Werner “Scotty” Nilsen went on to play for the U.S. in the 1934 World Cup. Scarone, who had played for Barcelona, joined Inter and played for Palermo in Italy’s Serie A after the World Cup.

A June 3, 1927 report by Associated Press noted financial problems related to the tour, placed under civil arrest were “Jose M. Degado and Robert Espil, president and secretary of the Club Nacional of Uruguay …”

April 19, 1909 – Boston Americans 8:4 Methuen Athletics, Washington St. Playgrounds, Roslindale

April 19, 1919 – Bethlehem Steel 2:0 Paterson Silk Sox. National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) final at Fall River Athletic Field (Att.: 7,000) “… a record crowd …”

“One of the most interesting collections of players in soccer football history will be seen in this contest. Nationalities are mixed as probably never before in the case of a National Challenge Cup final.” (Boston Globe April 14, 1919)

April 19, 1921 – Robins Dry Dock 4:3 Scullin Steel, U.S. Open Cup final at J&P Coats Field, Pawtucket, R.I. (Att. 10,000)

April 19, 1925 – Shawsheen Indians 3:0 Canadian Club (Chicago), U.S. Open Cup final at Mark’s Stadium, North Tiverton, R.I.

April 19, 1931 – Fall River Marksmen become first Mass. team to win consecutive U.S. Open Cup titles.

Chicago Bricklayers 0:2 (2:9 aggregate) Fall River Marksmen at Sparta Field

April 19, 1964 – Boston Metros 2:0 Philadelphia Uhrik Truckers at Chelsea Memorial Stadium

Metros improve to 8W-0L-1D. U.S. national team goalkeeper Henry Noga starts for Metros.

NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY