The New England Revolution played D.C. United to a 1-1 draw, then won the post-match shootout in a festive atmosphere, the game kicking off a few hours after a Red Sox-Kansas City Royals game attracted 29,459 at Fenway Park. [Read more…] about April 27, 1996 –Revolution inaugural home game at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 32,864)
Freddie Wall scores twice as Philadelphia FC hands Providence Clam Diggers their only home defeat of second half of ASL season. Wall, born in Fall River, finished seventh in the ASL with 22 goals in 25 games, playing for the Newark Skeeters and Philadelphia, that season. Wall, born in Fall River, Mass., also played for local clubs such as Lusitania Recreation in East Cambridge and was part of a generation that included proven goal-scorers on the international stage, such as Barney Battles, Davey Brown, Jim Brown, Buff Donelli, Tommy Florie, Billy Gonsalves, Arnie Oliver, Bert Patenaude, Archie Stark, et al.
According to The Boston Globe: “The Phils’ center-forward almost won the game single-handed when he scored two goals and passed to Wardrop a third.” For the deciding goal, Wall outmaneuvered Joe Kennaway, who would go on to be Celtic FC’s starting goalkeeper from 1931-39.
Bethlehem Steel 5×1 Walsh Chevrolet, National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup)
The same day, “18-year-old goalie” Johnny Reder of Fall River “was sensational” playing for Walsh Chevrolet. Reder, born in Lublin, Poland, Sept. 24, 1909, according to Colin Jose’s “American Soccer League 1921-1931,” went on to a two-sport professional career, playing for three ASL teams and as a first baseman/third baseman for the Boston Red Sox. Reder also was named MVP of the NY-Penn League while playing for the Williamsport Grays in 1935.
J&P Coats 3:1 Boston Wonder Workers
New Bedford Whalers 5:3 New York Nationals
Feb. 16, 1924 – Armenian-Americans “13th team of ‘nationalities’ to join district leagues in Boston area
NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
Bert Patenaude scores both Fall River goals past Kennaway. Scheduled opponent, Velez Sarsfield, delayed by “railway mishap in Texas … en route to the East.” Velez, a team that included players from Argentina’s 1930 World Cup team that defeated the U.S., 6-1, in the semifinals, arrived for a Feb. 22, 1931 match. Both goalkeepers — Joe Kennaway (Celtic FC) and Johnny Reder (first baseman for the Boston Red Sox) — would change teams in 1932. Jeremiah Best scored twice and Watson one goal for the All-Stars.
Feb. 15, 1925 – Fall River 3:0 J&P Coats. Lewis Cup game at Mark’s Stadium (Att.: 12,000)
“… all hopes of a record-breaking crowd for a soccer game in this country were dashed with the heavy rain that fell just before game time in Tiverton.”
According to The Boston Globe: “Boston’s 2-0 victory (over the New York Giants) means three teams out of the four remaining in this professional Cup series, making clearer the argument that New England teams are the game’s best supports (sic) from both a playing and financial point of view.”
New York Giants 0:2 Boston Wonder Workers, Lewis Cup match (Att.: 1,500)
Goals: Stevens, Fleming. Note: Battles hits bar early
Feb. 15, 2011 – Revolution sign Argentinian defender Franco Coria
NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
The Boston team was set to play in the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL), which was not sanctioned by the USSFA, at Fenway Park. Directors included former Celtics’ coach Red Auerbach and Red Sox executive vice president Dick O’Connell. [Read more…] about Jan. 31, 1967 – Boston awarded NPSL franchise
The New England Revolution capitalized on the demise of the Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny to begin a rebuilding project, developing the basis for teams that reached the 2002, ’05, ’06 and ’07 MLS Cup finals. Revolution coach Fernando Clavijo also acquired former Mutiny goalkeeper Adin Brown as a free agent, then selected Taylor Twellman with the No. 2 pick in the MLS draft. [Read more…] about Jan. 11, 2002 – Revolution acquire Mamadou Diallo, Carlos Llamosa, Steve Ralston, Jim Rooney, Alex Pineda Chacon, Shaker Asad in dispersal draft
Boston SC had a chance to make a run in the National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup), according to The Boston Globe: “There is magic to the word(s) “National Cup,” at least to soccer fans … While Boston has garnered most of the other soccer honors, at one time or another, winning the National Cup has eluded this city … (in 1926) the local pro team reached the semifinal but, when everyone expected Boston to win, the team collapsed and J&P Coats unexpectedly won.” [Read more…] about Jan. 7, 1933 – Boston SC 3:1 Victoria Mills, National Challenge Cup, Brookline Town Field
Boston SC’s Jimmy Cairney scored the winning goal with a “back heeler” that deflected off Caldwell past New Bedford Whalrs goalkeeper Johnny Reder (who would go on to play first base for the Red Sox in 1932). New Bedford was in first place in the ASL before the match. [Read more…] about Dec. 5, 1931 – Boston SC 2:1 New Bedford Whalers at Lincoln Park
Billy Gonsalves scored twice and Arnie Oliver once for the Marksmen, whose goalkeeper was future Boston Red Sox first baseman Johnny Reder. Gonsalves (b. Aug. 10, 1908 in Portsmouth, R.I.) and Oliver (b. May 22, 1907 in New Bedford, Mass.) were members of the U.S. national team that reached the semifinals of the 1930 World Cup in Uruguay. The U.S. team also included forwards James Brown, 21, who would go on to play and coach in Connecticut and Fall River’s Bert Patenaude, 20, the first player to complete a hat trick in the World Cup, plus team captain Tom Florie of Providence. [Read more…] about Oct. 23, 1930 – Hakoah All-Stars 0:3 (1:5 aggregate) Fall River Marksmen. Lewis Cup final at Polo Grounds (Att.: 2,500)
Kristine Lilly set up Dagney Mellgren for goals in the 25th and 44th minutes as the Breakers (6W-9L-3D, 21 points) pulled within two points of a playoff berth before a capacity crowd. The match had been sold out for a month, partly because of the arrival of the Freedom’s Mia Hamm, whose future husband, Nomar Garciaparra, would hit a home run in a 4-3 Red Sox win over the Chicago White Sox in a game played simultaneously just down Commonwealth Avenue at Fenway Park. [Read more…] about July 29, 2001 – Boston Breakers 2:1 Washington Freedom, WUSA game at Nickerson Field (Att.: 11,681)
Two clubs financed by Boston-based owners (John Henry, James Pallotta) met in a preseason match that was being proposed as a regular event. Goals from Michael Bradley (63rd minute) and Alessandro Florenzi (69th) gave Roma the advantage, then Liverpool substitute Charlie Adam (80th) cut the deficit. [Read more…] about July 25, 2012 – AS Roma 2:1 Liverpool FC at Fenway Park (Att.: 37,169)