June 16, 1980 – New England Tea Men 2:1 New York Cosmos at Schaefer Stadium (Att.: 28,356)

Salif Keita’s 35-yard free kick past Hubert Birkenmeier made the difference with 1:04 left in OT (104^th minute) as the Tea Men snapped a five-game losing streak. The Cosmos opened the scoring, Johan Neeskens heading in a 22^nd-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 47^th minute. Giorgio Chinaglia was red-carded in 71^st minute.

Keita had converted on a free kick (his third free kick goal in five games, according to The Boston Globe story) and penalty kick in the Tea Men’s 5-2 loss to the Chicago Sting at Comiskey Park June 14, 1980. Keita, 1970 African Player of the Year, competed for Saint-Etienne, Olympique Marseille, Valencia and Sporting CP. He operates the JF Centre Salif Keita in Bamako, a club in the Malian Premier Division that has developed high level stars for European clubs.

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY