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Frank Dell'Apa

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Major League Soccer

March 14, 1967 – Sox, Patriots Back Stadium; Rival Planners Offer Help

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They were talking about a sports stadium in Boston 50 years ago, but finances, logistics and politics got in the way. In the late 1960s, several sites were being considered for a stadium, from Dedham to Dorchester (Neponset Circle) to Readville to Stoughton to Weston. Other possibilities included East Boston; Fenway; Newton (on the Woodland Golf Club grounds); South Boston (in 1946, Mayor Curley pushed a 75,000-capacity stadium for Columbus Park in Southie); South Station (stadium to be built on “stilts”); Walpole; Westwood-Canton; Wilmington. Also proposed were a $5 million expansion of White Stadium; a facility next to a planned “third harbor tunnel,” paid for by tolls; one of the Harbor Islands. [Read more…] about March 14, 1967 – Sox, Patriots Back Stadium; Rival Planners Offer Help

March 12, 2016 – Earliest Revolution home-opener. Revolution 0x0 D.C. Utd.

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The New England Revolution played to their fourth successive scoreless draw in a home-opener. The Revolution extended their scoreless streak to 449 minutes, dating to Saer Sene’s first-minute goal in a 1-0 win over the Portland Timbers March 24, 2012, and their shutout streak to 450 minutes, in home-openers.

[Read more…] about March 12, 2016 – Earliest Revolution home-opener. Revolution 0x0 D.C. Utd.

March 10, 1997 – Revolution trade Welton to Galaxy for draft pick; cut Iain Fraser, Aidan Heaney, Peter Woodring

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After a disastrous on-field performance during the Revolution’s inaugural season, the team went for a near complete restructuring. Only three starters from 1996 opening day (3-2 loss at Tampa Bay) remained – Mike Burns, Alexi Lalas and Alberto Naveda. [Read more…] about March 10, 1997 – Revolution trade Welton to Galaxy for draft pick; cut Iain Fraser, Aidan Heaney, Peter Woodring

March 8, 2006 – Alajuelense 1×0 Revolution

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This was the second time in four years the Revolution had been eliminated by Alajuelense in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Carlos “Zorro” Hernandez’ 90th-minute free kick made the difference after the teams had played to a 0-0 draw in the first leg Feb. 22, 2006 in Hamilton, Bermuda. The first game was a “home” match for the Revolution, and playing at Bermuda’s national stadium seemed like a better strategy than the team had settled for three years earlier, both games being contested at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela. [Read more…] about March 8, 2006 – Alajuelense 1×0 Revolution

March 6, 2016 – Diego Fagundez scores in 3rd minute. Houston 3×3 Revolution

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Diego Fagundez’ third-minute goal tied Shalrie Joseph (2011) for second-earliest goal in a Revolution season. The fastest remains Giovanni Savarese’s score after 22 seconds in the 1999 season-opener in Miami.

The Revolution’s inability to sustain the advantage indicated the team’s defensive problems, which would not be solved until late in the season.

Fagundez would go on to become the only Revolution player to participate in all 34 games (six goals) in the 2016 season. Fagundez, 22, who scored his first Revolution goal as a 16-year-old in 2011, ranks seventh on the all-time team scoring list with 34 goals. Chris Aduama photo

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY

March 4, 1996 – Revolution select Boston College’s Paul Keegan No. 6 in initial MLS draft

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Paul Keegan became the first of several Boston College players to join MLS teams, becoming a starter for the New England Revolution in their inaugural season. Keegan provided the 88th-minute deciding goal as the Revolution took a 2-1 win over the Dallas Burn at the Cotton Bowl on the final day of the 1997 season, clinching the team’s first playoff berth.

[Read more…] about March 4, 1996 – Revolution select Boston College’s Paul Keegan No. 6 in initial MLS draft

March 3, 1997 – Revolution waive Geoff Aunger and Mark Watson

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Geoff Aunger and Mark Watson, along with Iain Fraser, made up the Revolution’s Canadian contingency in the team’s first season. Aunger scored the Revolution’s first goal in their inaugural home game, a 79th-minute penalty kick in a 1-1 draw with D.C. United, the Revolution winning the post-match shootout before a 32,864 crowd at Foxboro Stadium April 27, 1996. Aunger, who had playing for the Vancouver 86ers before being selected in the 13th round of the initial MLS Draft, provided consistency and leadership in midfield. Watson had been acquired from the Columbus Crew to provide depth in central defense behind Alexi Lalas and Francis Okaroh. [Read more…] about March 3, 1997 – Revolution waive Geoff Aunger and Mark Watson

March 2, 2012 – Revolution acquire Lee Nguyen on waivers from Vancouver

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Eight days after this transaction, Lee Nguyen made his New England Revolution debut as an opening day substitute for Fernando Cardenas, and has seldom been out of the lineup since. Revolution coach Jay Heaps has built the offense around Nguyen’s playmaking, Nguyen also developing into a finisher. Nguyen totaled 20 goals in the 2014 season, second-best in Revolution history behind Taylor Twellman’s 25 total (all competitions) in 2002. Nguyen has scored 43 goals in 178 games (all competitions), trailing Ralston (44) and Twellman (119) on the team’s all-time list. Last season, Nguyen was named team captain, and his role morphed into more of a pure attacking position, with Juan Agudelo filling the creator position. [Read more…] about March 2, 2012 – Revolution acquire Lee Nguyen on waivers from Vancouver

March 1, 1999 – Revolution 1×0 Alania Vladikavkaz

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A Joe-Max Moore free kick gave the Revolution a 1-0 win over Alania Vladikavkaz, which had won the Russian title in 1995, finished second in ’96, 10th in ’97 and eighth in ’98. The preseason match was staged in Massa, Italy. Alania had several national team players, plus five Brazilians, who seemed to be under the most pressure after the defeat. Valeriy Gazzaev was coaching the Snow Leopards, and he did not take losses lightly. This was a preseason game, but the competitive level was intense. Early in the match, Raimondas Zutautas ripped a necklace off of Giovanni Savarese, and I never found out why. [Read more…] about March 1, 1999 – Revolution 1×0 Alania Vladikavkaz

Feb. 27, 2014 – Ryan Johnson signs with Henan Jianye in Chinese Super League

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Boston’s Ryan Johnson became the first player to transfer from MLS to the Chinese Super League in 2014. The deal was set up by Wellesley-based agent Patrick McCabe of Global Premier Management. McCabe and GPS partner Damani Ralph (ex-UConn) took Deshorn Brown to Shenzhen FC in the Chinese Super League last year, placing the Boston area firmly on the map for international player transactions. [Read more…] about Feb. 27, 2014 – Ryan Johnson signs with Henan Jianye in Chinese Super League