June 29, 1950 – U.S. 1:0 England, World Cup at Estadio Independencia, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Post by frankdellapa@gmail.com
The result of this first-round World Cup match was such a shock that many misleading reports resulted, including an Associated Press story in The Boston Globe crediting Ed Souza of Fall River, Mass., (instead of Joe Gaetjens) with a 39th-minute goal.
Two other Fall River players were listed on the U.S. roster: 38-year-old Frank “Shorty” Moniz and John “Clarkie” Souza. All three made their international debut as Ponta Delgada’s team was chosen to represent the U.S. in the 1947 North American Championship (a 5-0 loss to Mexico in Havana July 13, 1947).
Ed (nicknamed “Wolfman”) Souza scored his first international goal in a 5-2 loss to Cuba July 20, 1947. Both Souzas played in the 1948 Olympics, the U.S. blanked, 9-0, by Italy at Griffin Park in London Aug. 2, 1948.
The U.S. took 3-1 and 4-1 wins over Israel in 1948, the team including Ponta Delgada members Joseph Ferreira, Manuel Martin, Joseph Rego-Costa, plus both Souzas, Ed scoring three goals in the two matches. John Souza scored his first international goal in a 6-2 loss to Mexico in 1950 World Cup qualifying, his second in a 5-2 victory over Cuba that clinched the U.S. berth in the finals.
John Souza, who was known more for his playmaking than scoring, then gave the U.S. a 1-0 halftime lead with a 17th-minute score in a 3-1 loss to Spain in the 1950 World Cup opener in Curitiba, Brazil, June 25, 1950.
Meanwhile, Ed Souza was not included in the U.S. lineup in qualifiers or in the World Cup opener, but returned to the starting lineup for the England match and the 5-2 loss to Chile in Recife July 2, 1950.
Gaetjens was apparently arrested and executed in Haiti, much of his family relocating to New Hampshire.
http://www.waitingforgaetjens.com/gaetjens-without-country-name-haiti.html
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