April 27, 1996 – Revolution outdraw Red Sox in inaugural home game

The New England Revolution were the last team to make their MLS debut, officials scaling Foxboro Stadium to 22,385 for the initial season. A week before the home-opener, though, more tickets (price range: $9-$23) were released. The Revolution played D.C. United to a 1-1 draw, then won the post-match shootout before 32,864 (the Red Sox-Kansas City Royals game attracted 29,459 during the day). Raul Diaz Arce scored on a 24^th-minute diving header, then the Revolution’s Geoff Aunger tied the score with an 80^th-minute penalty kick, and Darren Sawatzky converted the decider in the shootout. Future Revolution players played key roles for D.C. United: Diaz Arce, plus Kris Kelderman (who fouled Paul Keegan to set up the penalty kick) and Jeff Causey, who was in goal in the shootout.

The quality of play was low, but enthusiasm was high, according to The Boston Globe report. Globe columnist Michael Madden reported: “… the crowd was happy, hopping and delirious.”

Revolution 1:1 D.C. United, Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 32,864). Chris Aduama photo

Here is my story from April 29, 1996 editions of the Globe:

Timing appears right for budding Revolution

So far, the New England Revolution have presented a competitive team with charismatic players. But the franchise’s greatest asset appears to be timing.

The team attracted 32,864 fans to its home opener at Foxboro Stadium Saturday night, outdrawing that day’s Red Sox game by more than 3,000. And, with the seasons having ended for the Bruins and Celtics and the Red Sox struggling, the Revolution have a chance to be the most successful New England professional sports franchise going — on the field, at least.

The Revolution are 2-1 after playing Washington D.C. United to a 1-1 tie during regulation, then winning the postmatch shootout as Darren Sawatzky scored against Jeff Causey on the final kick. Though the team struggled for much of the match, it displayed enough athleticism and spirit to rally against a more concise and defensive D.C. United.

Most of the crowd stayed until the end. Then, they and the Revolution reacted as if the team had won a championship. In fact, the Revolution only earned one point in the standings for the shootout victory to remain in third place in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer.

The contest was played in a celebratory atmosphere. Reebok sponsored the game and company president Paul Fireman joined Revolution owner-operators Jonathan and Robert Kraft for the ceremonial kickoff. A fan club, the Midnight Riders, took seats — actually, the approximately 100 members stood for the entire game — behind the south goal and led their section in chants, cheers and songs.

“The energy of the crowd was among the best I’ve seen,” MLS commissioner Doug Logan said. “They were knowledgeable and enthusiastic. I went into the crowd a couple of times and what I saw were people who had been truly dying for this sport to come back and who were very grateful that it had.

“As the technical level grows, the excitement level will grow. And a lot of people liked the shootout.”

Salvadoran striker Raul Diaz Arce had given D.C. United the lead with a diving header in the 24th minute of the second half. The Revolution tied the score when Geoff Aunger converted a penalty in the 80th minute after Paul Keegan had been tripped in the penalty area.

The second half was hectic and directionless. But it caught the crowd’s attention. Logan called it “the most entertaining and most competitive half of the season, from a fan standpoint.”

Unfortunately, much of the running was aimless and midfield direction barely existed — just the frenetic style which a skillful, experienced team would dissect with ease. And it is just the type of game coach Frank Stapleton considers self-destructive, especially in the summer.

However, this night was cool and tension needed to be released. D.C. United was desperate, as they were winless in the first month of the season. The Revolution seemed desperate not to have their home opener spoiled by one of the worst teams in the league. And the fans apparently had a craving for competition.

“That was everything we could have wanted in a home opener,” Jonathan Kraft said. “It was an enthusiastic crowd, a close and dramatic game.”

Attendances have been high for soccer matches since Foxboro Stadium played host to the US-Republic of Ireland game in 1991. Six World Cup finals matches attracted 323,565 spectators in 1994. But soccer fans have not had a high-level professional team in the area since the New England Tea Men departed in 1980. The Tea Men’s top official attendance figure — 30,126 for a game against the New York Cosmos July 5, 1978 — already has been surpassed by the Revolution.

With ticket prices ranging between $9 and $23 — a season ticket costs $180 — the Revolution are the most affordable professional team in the area.

The Revolution, though, would prefer not to have to scramble to salvage a point at home. The team had hoped to utilize the midfield direction of Argentinian Alberto Naveda to bring out the offensive capabilities of Italian Giuseppe Galderisi and Brazilian left winger Welton. However, Naveda remained on the bench for the second successive game, and the Revolution attackers were on their own for much of the contest.

“Nobody on this team is proud of what we did on the whole,” defender Alexi Lalas said. “We can play much better.

“We had a great crowd, and they loved it from start to finish. They were rewarded with goals and us winning at the end. The good thing about this is that it only gets better.”

Attendance will not likely improve, though. The stadium has been reduced to 22,385 seats for the season and was only expanded because of the demand for the inaugural game. Team officials expect about 15,000 fans for Saturday’s game against San Jose.

But the quality of the crowd has little room for improvement. There was a mixture of ethnic groups, families and a wide age range. And, only two fans were taken into protective custody.

“We usually have that by 9 o’clock in the morning during the Patriots’ season,” a security official said.

Below is the game story from April 28, 1996:

Revolution on ball in shootout

FOXBOROUGH – Opening night for the New England Revolution featured an enthusiastic crowd, a chaotic contest and a dramatic conclusion last night at Foxboro Stadium.

The Revolution were successful at the gate as 32,864 spectators caused the team to increase capacity from the scaled-down 22,385 planned for the Major League Soccer season. The team struggled on the field, salvaging a regulation-time tie against winless Washington D.C. United on a late penalty kick by Geoff Aunger. But the night had an upbeat ending as the Revolution took a 2-1 victory after winning a shootout.

This was the second successive Revolution victory but it was worth only one point in the standings, compared to three for last week’s regulation-time win over the New York/New Jersey MetroStars.

The Revolution (2-1) played an all-out attacking style and Washington (0-4) presented a tight, counterattacking defensive strategy. D.C. United probably deserved a better result after stifling the Revolution midfield with offside traps and tackling aggressively, and discouraging the fast-paced forays of Brazilian left wing Welton.

“We’ve got to play 90 minutes and not just 25,” Revolution coach Frank Stapleton said. “We were second on most balls in the first half and they found it too easy to open us up. We left a lot of gaps open.”

Washington, playing without Bolivian forwards Marco Antonio Etcheverry and Juan Berthy Suarez, scored on Raul Diaz Arce’s diving header in the 24th minute. Richie Williams, who defended against Welton, kept the Revolution off balance on the right side for much of the contest and crossed to Diaz Arce for the first goal.

The Revolution pressed forward in the first half but Giuseppe Galderisi’s header off a Welton corner was saved by Jeff Causey, and when Welton broke through, Causey stopped his shot. Washington patiently picked its spots, and Steve Rammel drove a leftfooted shot off the bar and had a header cleared off the line by Zak Ibsen in the first half.

Midfield play disintegrated in the second half as players tired and the Revolution pressed forward. They scored the tying goal after Paul Keegan was tripped in the penalty area by Kris Kelderman. Aunger converted the penalty in the 80th minute.

By then, Galderisi and John Debrito had been replaced by Keegan and Darren Sawatzky, who would make the winning kick in the shootout. The Revolution were on the verge of losing the shootout after Welton scored, then Diaz Arce and Kelderman gave Washington the edge. But Aunger converted, then goalkeeper Aidan Heaney saved Eddie Pope’s attempt and Sawatzky slotted a shot past Causey into the right side of the net.

“You said the word `cheated,’ ” Washington coach Bruce Arena replied to a questioner. “I thought we played pretty well and if it wasn’t for a bizarre couple of seconds in the penalty area we probably would have walked out of here with a win.”

Arena said that a Washington player actually had been fouled, leading to a loss of possession, before the penalty was awarded by referee Esse Baharmast.

The Revolution continued to exhibit defensive weaknesses, though Mike Burns compensated for most of them at sweeper. Heaney, who practiced only once with the team last week because of coaching commitments in North Carolina, demonstrated exceptional positioning and has allowed only one goal in 180 minutes since relieving Jim St. Andre, who served a suspension last week.

But the Revolution lacked offensive cohesion. Much of this can be attributed to the fact that the team was assembled last month. Argentinian Alberto Naveda was expected to provide midfield direction but he was substituted during the team’s 3-2 loss to Tampa in the opener and has not returned to the field.

“Because he wasn’t in there doesn’t mean he won’t be in the future,” Stapleton said. “I’m the one who picks the team and I put the best team out there. Alberto is aware of the situation. We are playing in America, not South America or Italy, and it is very physical and the players have to adjust a little bit. Alberto is a very important part of the team. He is not in the lineup at the moment but he is aware of the situation and will wait his chance.”

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY