Daigo Kobayashi has been with seven teams in five countries on three continents, and the Revolution have come closest to becoming his home team. Kobayashi has played 90 games in all competitions for the Revolution, three more than he played for Omiya Ardija in Japan. Among Kobayashi’s former coaches was Osvaldo Ardiles, with Tokyo Verdy’s 2005 Japan Super Cup-winner team. Ardiles, a star with Argentina’s 1978 World Cup-winners, also happened to be the first coach the Revolution interviewed before the team kicked off the 1996 season. [Read more…] about Feb. 26, 2014 – Revolution acquire Daigo Kobayashi from Vancouver in exchange for draft pick
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Feb. 25, 1917 – Soccer Invitation of Danes Declined
According to the Boston Globe story: “Pres John A Fernley of Pawtucket presided as the National Council of the United States Football Association met in Providence.”
The Danish Association “offer of $9,000 for a series of international matches in that country next May and June was declined, but the Missouri Association was given permission to send a team to Sweden in May.”
TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
Feb. 24, 1929 – Fall River Wins on an Icy Field
The Fall River Marksmen took a 2-0 victory over the New Bedford Whalers in a Sunday game before a 3,500 crowd. The game “was well played despite the heavy condition of the field,” according to the Boston Globe story. In the second half, “ice commenced to form on the field, making play dangerous.” Tec White and Johnny Granger scored.
[Read more…] about Feb. 24, 1929 – Fall River Wins on an Icy Field
Feb. 23, 1925 – Boston 1×2 Shawsheen
This was considered a major upset, since Boston had contracted several top British star players to play in the American Soccer League. According to the Boston Globe story, Carrie and Blyth scored for Shawsheen, Hamill for Boston, and Shawsheen’s Murdoch saved a McIntyre penalty kick at the Walpole-st Grounds. [Read more…] about Feb. 23, 1925 – Boston 1×2 Shawsheen
Feb. 22, 2006 – Revolution, Alajuelense draw in Bermuda
This was considered the home leg of the CONCACAF Champions League matchup for the New England Revolution, and several hundred supporters made the trip to Hamilton for the game, plus a chance to witness training sessions. The featured players were the Revolution’s Clint Dempsey and Alajuelense’s Bryan Ruiz, who would go on to become teammates at Fulham FC, attracting significant transfer fees along the way. [Read more…] about Feb. 22, 2006 – Revolution, Alajuelense draw in Bermuda
Feb. 21, 2001 – New England Revolution open doors in Costa Rica
Unpredictable things occurred during the New England Revolution’s preseason training, often against Costa Rican clubs. The Revolution were among the first MLS teams to make inroads in Costa Rica. The Revolution played to a 2-2 draw at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Feb. 21, 2001, Wolde Harris scoring the first goal on a penalty kick, the tying goal on an extraordinary sequence. With seconds remaining, Harris advanced into the penalty area and was sent flying off the field by a defender past the end line … and through a door leading to the locker room. Harris had stopped the ball on the end line, and was able to return quickly enough to regain possession and convert the tying goal just before the final whistle. [Read more…] about Feb. 21, 2001 – New England Revolution open doors in Costa Rica
Feb. 20, 1997 – Revolution acquire Chiquinho Conde from Vitoria Setubal
Chiquinho Conde totaled 6 goals in 17 games for the New England Revolution in their second season. Conde might have produced more, but his season was interrupted by trips for World Cup qualifying matches. Traveling to Mozambique was exceedingly time-consuming. Conde played two games in Maputo and a third in Mauritius. And Conde had to make a fourth visit to attend the funeral of a brother.
Meanwhile, the Revolution were struggling, and coach Thomas Rongen jumped at the chance to bring back Giuseppe Galderisi, so he traded Chiquinho to Tampa Bay. Galderisi helped the Revolution qualify for the playoffs for the first time. [Read more…] about Feb. 20, 1997 – Revolution acquire Chiquinho Conde from Vitoria Setubal
Feb. 19, 2014 – Revolution acquire Teal Bunbury from Sporting Kansas City
Less than three weeks after joining the New England Revolution, Teal Bunbury became starter in the season-opener. Bunbury has been in the opening day starting lineup three successive seasons, totaling 98 appearances and 15 goals in all competitions for the Revolution. Bunbury has been at his best in the MLS post-season and U.S. Open Cup competitions, scoring twice the Revolution’s run to the 2014 MLS Cup final and three times on the way to last year’s U.S. Open Cup final.
Bunbury’s left-footer from outside the penalty area at Red Bull Arena provided the first goal in the Revolution’s win over the New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference finals. The Revolution wisely attacked the Red Bulls’ Ambroise Oyongo early on, and the move paid off as Bunbury easily outmaneuvered Oyongo for the score. At the time, Oyongo might have been considered a Red Bulls’ weak point, but he has become a starter for the Montreal Impact and Cameroon’s title-winning team in the African Nations Cup.
TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
Feb. 18, 2016 – Revolution acquire Je-Vaughn Watson from FC Dallas
Je-Vaughn Watson proved to be among the New England Revolution’s most valuable and versatile players, sparking the team’s run to the U.S. Open Cup final last year. Watson, who has been playing as a holding midfielder and captaining the Jamaica national team, played in the back and midfield for the Revolution.
Watson started at left back in the Revolution’s season-opener, a 3-3 draw at Houston. Watson moved to right back for the next game, and by the next month had started in central defense, as well. Watson totaled three goals – a game-winner against Chicago in an MLS game, the go-ahead score (and deciding penalty kick) against the Philadelphia Union in the Open Cup, and the decider against Chicago in the semifinals. [Read more…] about Feb. 18, 2016 – Revolution acquire Je-Vaughn Watson from FC Dallas
Feb. 17, 2006 – Clint Dempsey scores 5 goals in preseason game
Clint Dempsey joined the Revolution as a defensive midfielder in 2004, but began emerging as an attacking threat early on. By ’06, Dempsey had become a regular with the U.S. national team, though he did not solidify a starting role until the final game of 2006 World Cup group play. In the preseason, Dempsey totaled 7 goals – he scored 5 goals in an 8-1 win over the Bermuda U-20 national team on this day.
Dempsey scored 8 goals in 21 games for the Revolution (plus another 4 for the U.S.) in ‘06. But, by the end of the season, Dempsey and several teammates were playing injured. The lack of an adequate bench, plus some physical opposition along the way, caused the Revolution to be below par in the MLS Cup final; Dempsey and Steve Ralston were unable to participate in penalty kicks as the Revolution lost to the Houston Dynamo after playing to a 1-1 draw.
TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY