Nov. 16, 1997 – U.S. 4:2 El Salvador, first U.S. WCQ win in Foxborough (Att.: 53,193)
Post by frankdellapa@gmail.com
Brian McBride (22’ & 28’) and Chris Henderson (49’) gave the U.S. a 3-0 lead over El Salvador on the final day of World Cup qualifying. Nildeson de Melo cut the deficit and Raul Diaz Arce (who would score 18 goals for the Revolution in the 1998 MLS season) converted a 62nd-minute penalty kick past future Revolution goalkeeper Jurgen Sommer (who replaced current Revolution coach Brad Friedel after halftime). De Melo earned the penalty after a clash with Peter Vermes. The Guanacos’ hopes for a qualifying spot remained alive until Preki’s 82nd-minute score clinched the result for the U.S.
The U.S. had taken a 3-0 win over Canada on Nov. 9, 1997, guaranteeing a berth in the 1998 World Cup.
The U.S. had a 7W-0L-3D record at Foxboro Stadium from 1991-2001. The El Salvador team included second half substitute Elias Montes, who would play for future Revolution coach Steve Nicol with the Boston Bulldogs in 1999-2000, plus MLS stars Ronald Cerritos and Mauricio Cienfuegos. El Salvador has a 1W-6L-0D mark at Foxboro and Gillette in games played from 1997-2007.
Exactly 125 years previously, Yale and Columbia kicked off a soccer (association football) game in New Haven, Conn.
Nov. 16, 1872 – Yale 3:0 Columbia at Hamilton Park (Att.: 400)
http://www.yalerfc.com/new-page/