Substitute Ivica “John” Liposinovic’s 88th-minute deflected shot equalized for the Beacons, who rallied from a 2-0 deficit, playing at a numerical disadvantage after the ejection of Billy Fraser. [Read more…] about Aug. 9, 1968 – Boston Beacons 2:2 New York Generals at Fenway Park
Roberto Baggio left it late, but not as late as his 89th-minute goal in Italy’s 2-1 extra time win over Nigeria at Foxboro Stadium on July 5, 1994. This time, Baggio scored in the 88th minute as Italy advanced to a World Cup semifinal date with Bulgaria. [Read more…] about July 9, 1994 – Italy 2:1 Spain, WC quarterfinals at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 53,400).
Former Dartmouth College football star Bill Cunningham named president of American Soccer League. League also adds a new team: “… an all-Jewish team, to be known as the Hakoah of New York, is being organized by Nat Agar, formerly of the Brooklyn Wanderers. Fourteen stars of Continental Europe are being imported for the team,” according to a wire service report. [Read more…] about June 28, 1929 – Boston Man Reelected Soccer League President
News did not travel fast in those days, George M. Collins’ report (by mail) of the U.S. national team’s 3-2 win over Poland appearing in July 3, 1924 editions of The Boston Globe.
This was the seventh official international match for the U.S. national team (4W-2L-1T), according to the Society for American Soccer History. Brockton’s Herbert “Birdie” Wells’ third-minute goal gave the U.S. the lead and Fleisher Yarn’s Andy Stradan (formerly of Fore River) converted in the 30th and 47th minutes. [Read more…] about June 10, 1924 – AMERICAN SOCCER TEAM HAD A WONDERFUL TIME IN POLAND
The Boston Globe May 29, 1925 editions noted:
“The Boston Soccer Social Club will hold a special meeting tonight at 8 o’clock in the Caledonian Building and all members are requested to be present.”
The building, at the corner of Appleton and Berkeley streets, became the Boston Tea Party rock club in the 1960s.
TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
According to an Associated Press story, George M. Collins “declares” the USFA would “have to accept all other professional bodies on equal footing,” during the 12th annual meeting of the group in New York. Collins, a Boston Globe columnist, representing the Massachusetts and New Hampshire Association, was referring to recognition for the two professional leagues – the American Soccer League and the St. Louis Soccer League. [Read more…] about May 18, 1925 – American Soccer League accepted as full member of United States FA
The Boston Globe listed attendance at 10,000, “the biggest crowd of people to ever watch a soccer game in the Boston area.” Several sources who were at the game as players or spectators are convinced the crowd was greater than 10,000. My primary source is Frank Mirisola, a South Boston businessman and former Boston SC player/long-time supervisor of referees for the Boston Public Schools league. Mirisola said he “saw the ticket receipts and it was 15,000 … it wasn’t quite full.” Everett Memorial Stadium held 18,000 on bleacher seats, according to Sal LoGrasso, a long-time Everett resident and former Boston SC and Boston Minutemen defender. [Read more…] about May 8, 1964 – Liverpool FC draws a (15,000) crowd in Boston
Boston Soccer Club won the equivalent of a national championship, defeating St. Louis champion Ben Millers, 3-2. Johnny Ballantyne, Barney Battles and Tommy “Whitey” Fleming scored for Boston, Jimmy Dunn and Pee Wee Fitzgerald for the Ben Millers.
The Boston Globe story noted: “The day was too hot for good soccer.” The Millers’ Tommy White suffered a fractured leg in the first seven minutes of play (in the second half) in a collision with W. Ballantyne. [Read more…] about April 26, 1925 – Boston SC earns U.S. soccer title, trip to White House
Boston Beacons investors included the Celtics’ Red Auerbach and Red Sox general manager Dick O’Connell. The team had hired coach Jack Mansell a year earlier, but had been unable to make player acquisitions until shortly before the start of the 1968 season. On the eve of the opener, team spokesman Joe McKenney said the Beacons were “hoping for 5,000” attendance. Ticket prices ranged from $1 to $4.50. Leigh Montville’s preview in the Boston Globe noted the crowd would include Cardinal Cushing and the governor, John A. Volpe, and the team would provide a pre-game demonstration of the rules of the game. [Read more…] about April 23, 1968 – Boston Beacons 3:0 Detroit Cougars at Fenway Park (Att. 4,406). Beacons’ inaugural home match
After a 3-0 win over the Columbus Crew, my Boston Globe story noted: “Though it is too early to determine trends, the Revolution have shown they plan to perform at a different level than in the past. Even on the uneven surface [yes, they played on real grass in those days] at Gillette Stadium, the Revolution seemed comfortable in controlling the pace and keeping the ball in play, eventually wearing down the Crew.”
Clint Dempsey scored the first goal on a 64th-minute header off a Jay Heaps cross. In the first half, “Dempsey nearly hopped through two defenders but was ruled out of bounds by referee Terry Vaughn. It was a move inspired by Mexican forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who calls the move a ‘Cuauhtemiña.’ [Read more…] about April 9, 2005 – Revolution win home-opener, Deuce hops to it with a Cuauhtemiña