Celtic’s Georgios Samaras opened the scoring with a 72nd-minute penalty kick and Helder Postiga’s 81st-minute header equalized. Paul McGowan scored the deciding shootout goal for Celtic, which was playing at Fenway Park for the first time since 1931. Celtic has a 1W-3L-2D record in New England since 1930.
This was the first Fenway soccer match since 1968, when Santos FC defeated the Boston Beacons, 7-1, before an 18,431 crowd. Chris Aduama photo
TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
Billy Gonsalves scored three goals for the Yankees, who began the season as the Fall River Marksmen, in an upset win over Celtic FC. In fact, the Boston Globe advance story called the team the “Fall River Yankees.”
“Billy Gonsalves, who learned his soccer on the sandlots of East Cambridge and then was grabbed by the old Boston team, was the big works in the game. All he did was score three of the Yankees’ goals and manipulate the ball in such a manner that he completely mystified the famous Celtics at times.” [Read more…] about May 30, 1931 – New York Yankees 4:3 Glasgow Celtic at Fenway Park (Att.: 8,000)
Jimmy McGrory scored off a deflection as Celtic FC won the 55th edition of the Scottish Cup (Celtic’s 14th championship). Kennaway made his international debut as a 21-year-old with Canada in 1926, then attracted Celtic’s attention in a friendly match; Fall River took a 1-0 win over Celtic May 31, 1931 (Celtic’s goalkeeper was John Thomsen, who would die following a clash with Rangers’ Sam English less than five months). Kennaway replaced Thomsen and became Celtic’s starting goalkeeper from 1931-39, then coached Brown University from 1946-59. [Read more…] about April 15, 1933 – Joe Kennaway becomes first foreigner to earn Scottish Cup winners’ medal. Celtic 1:0 Motherwell (Att.: 102,339)
Shalrie Joseph led the Revolution in scoring (8 goals) during the 2011 season, a statistic indicating his impressive versatility and also the team’s lack of strikers that year. Joseph totaled a Revolution record 305 games in all competitions, carrying the Revolution as far as possible in his final seasons as the team’s supporting cast declined. [Read more…] about March 20, 2011 –LA Galaxy 1:1 Revolution. Shalrie Joseph 3rd minute goal.
Bobby Blair scored twice as J&P Coats took a 3-0 win over the Providence Gold Bugs, remaining unbeaten in the second half of the ASL season in “a contest which brought about the biggest crowd and best soccer of the current season,” according to 2/10/29 editions of the Boston Globe. Providence’s Joe Kennaway would go on to become Celtic FC goalkeeper from 1931-39.
On the same day, the Boston Wonder Workers were upset, 4-3, by Jersey City at the Walpole Street Grounds. The visitors from Skeeterville “inject(ed) Jimmy Douglas, Olympic goalie of 1924 into their lineup” and “deserved to win,” according to the Globe account. “The field was heavy, in fact it was ankle deep in mud …” [Read more…] about Feb. 9, 1929 – ‘Biggest crowd, best soccer of the season’
Jan. 23, 1926 – New Bedford Whalers 2×3 Boston Wonder Workers
Boston moved into second place in the ASL as Johnny Ballantyne, Bobby Blair, Bill Westwater score. Blair went on to total 36 goals in 33 games. Stevens and Mike McLeavy converted for the Whalers, Stevens going on to lead the league with 44 goals in 39 games. Many of the players in this match had been high-level performers in Scotland, Ballantyne causing controversy by “jumping” his contract with Partick Thistle to move to Boston in 1924. Ballantyne returned to Partick Thistle from 1929-35 and played for Queens Park Rangers in 1935.
Ballantyne’s goal in this game was “accidently” knocked in by Shaw, according to The Boston Globe account. [Read more…] about Jan. 23, 1926 – New Bedford Whalers 2×3 Boston Wonder Workers