After Foxboro Stadium was evacuated and kickoff delayed 72 minutes, Dallas took the lead as Jason Kreis assisted future New England Revolution midfielder Damian Alvarez (19th minute), then scored in the 27th minute. Alejandro “Colorado” Farias cut the deficit with a 29th-minute header and Alexi Lalas equalized with a 65th-minute header from Imad Baba. [Read more…] about June 22, 1997 – Revolution 2:2 (2:1 shootout) Dallas Burn. Hour-plus lightning delay (Att.: 15,819)
Three Gabriel Batistuta goals (2’, 44’, 90’) and Diego Maradona’s 60th-minute conversion launched Argentina into a favorite’s role in the tournament. The World Cup kicked off June 17, 1994, and anticipation built for this match, the first of six WC games in New England. Argentina set up camp at Babson College in Wellesley and, apparently, the Selección’s training staff shopped on Tremont Street in Boston, purchasing the dietary supplement containing ephedrine that ended up getting Maradona banned. [Read more…] about June 21, 1994 – Argentina 4:0 Greece, first World Cup game at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 53,644)
The two greatest players of their era, Eusébio da Silva Ferreira and Edson Arantes do Nascimento “Pelé”, met in a competitive match for the first time since the 1966 World Cup as the Boston Minutemen took a 2-1 extra time win over the New York Cosmos before an overflow crowd at Boston University’s Nickerson Field. Overflow is the operative word, since the stadium was dangerously oversold, fans standing at field level behind the goals.
Eusébio converted the opening goal on a free kick for the Minutemen, then Pelé scored a disallowed goal (former Harvard goalkeeper Shep Messing deflected a shot over the end line, the ball ricocheting back off spectators), the crowd rushing on to the field. Mark Liveric scored a late equalizer and Wolfgang Suhnholz broke the deadlock in extra time.
The Cosmos protested the game and the result was nullified by NASL commissioner Phil Woosnam on July 1.
Among the best recountings of the game is in Messing’s “The Education of an American Soccer Player.”
The stadium was more than rocking, the stands filled and traffic on Commonwealth Avenue locked up an hour before kickoff.
“It sounds like a soccer crowd in fucking El Salvador,” Messing noted.
The time marked the beginning of the demise of the Minutemen with the start of an SEC investigation into Minutemen owner John Sterge’s petroleum investments in May and the advent of the relaunch of the Cosmos, with the June 10, 1975 signing of Pelé to a $4.5 million contract.
Eusébio and Pelé were near the end of their careers, but both had enough left to lead their teams to championships.
The Minutemen realized this could be their opportunity.
“Any locker room that houses Eusébio should be declared a shrine,” Messing wrote.
Had Sterge been able to maintain the financing, the Minutemen might have made their name on the field. The Minutemen won the NASL’s Northern Division and the Cosmos finished third in 1975. Eusébio and Suhnholz moved to Toronto Metros-Croatia, leading them to the 1976 NASL Soccer Bowl title. Pelé and the Cosmos won the 1977 Soccer Bowl.
June 20, 1975 – Boston Minutemen 2:1 (aet) New York Cosmos at Nickerson Field (Att.: 20,000 est.)
TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
Long before the National Basketball Association version of the name, the Boston Celtics were a successful soccer club – “the Irish club from Sullivan Sq.” in Charlestown, according to The Boston Globe. Former U.S. national teamer Jackie Lyons, who played in the 1928 Olympics, led the way for the Celtics against the defending champion Clan MacGregor of Quincy.
Long before the National Basketball Association version of the name, the Boston Celtics were a successful soccer club – “the Irish club from Sullivan Sq.” in Charlestown, according to The Boston Globe. Former U.S. national teamer Jackie Lyons, who played in the 1928 Olympics, led the way for the Celtics against the defending champion Clan MacGregor of Quincy.
Leo Messi converted in the 60th minute, after Gonzalo Higuain (8’, 28’) opened the scoring for Argentina in a 4-1 victory over Venezuela. Jose Salomon Rondon cut the deficit in the 70th minute and substitute Erik Lamela added Argentina’s final goal in the 71st minute. Sergio Romero saved an attempted chipped penalty kick by Venezuela’s Luis Seijas in the 43rd minute. [Read more…] about June 18, 2016 – Lionel Messi scores for Argentina in first Gillette Stadium appearance
Bruce Murray opened the scoring, finishing a John Harkes cross in the third minute. After Raul Chacon’s 22nd-minute equalizer, Eric Eichmann converted the 67th-minute decider off a Tab Ramos corner. [Read more…] about June 17, 1989 – U.S. 2:1 Guatemala. World Cup Qualifier at Veterans Stadium, New Britain, Conn. (Att.: 10,500)
Here’s info on the status of New England Revolution soccer-specific stadium proposal. Talked with Jonathan Kraft, Brian Bilello, Pat Sullivan, others. The story is published in the New England Soccer Journal: http://www.nesoccerjournal.com/nesoccerj_201706/index.html#ne_revolution_keep_dreaming
KEEP DREAMING
The odds of the Revolution – or anyone – building a Boston stadium, soccer-specific or not, are close to zero. That was to be my theme for this column, after having researched local stadium projects from the 1940s through the recent failed proposal for the Bayside Expo site.
But, following an informal interview with Jonathan Kraft, I am modifying my stance. Jonathan seems to be 100 percent certain it will happen, and soon. So, meeting him halfway, I’ll say maybe there is a 50 percent chance of a Boston stadium being realized.
It is difficult to remain optimistic after encountering so many deceptions, obstacles and roadblocks. But if the Krafts are positive about this, you can’t count them out.
[Read more…] about New England Revolution Soccer Specific Stadium: Any bets?
Salif Keita’s 35-yard free kick past Hubert Birkenmeier made the difference with 1:04 left in OT (104th minute) as the Tea Men snapped a five-game losing streak. The Cosmos opened the scoring, Johan Neeskens heading in a 22nd-minute Franz Beckenbauer free kick. Kevin Keelan saved a Neeskens header off a Vladislav Bogicevic cross and a late first-half Beckenbauer shot. Chris Turner equalized off an Artur cross in the 47th minute. Giorgio Chinaglia was red-carded in 71st minute.
Scotland took a 3-1 win over the New England All-Stars on the way to compiling an 8W-1L-0T record on North American tour. The Scots lost, 2-0, to Belfast Celtic at Triborough Stadium on Randall’s Island in New York May 29, 1949. Rangers’ Willie Thornton scored twice, Derby County’s Willie Steel once. Thornton converted off a 19th-minute McKenzie corner, then Frank “Shorty” Moniz equalized off a John Souza feed. Steel broke the deadlock, Scotland taking a two-goal halftime lead. [Read more…] about June 15, 1949 – Scots make a stop in Fall River
