This Week in NE Soccer History
Jan. 5, 2014 – Eusebio da Silva Ferreira dies in Lisbon
Eusebio da Silva Ferreira concluded his Benfica career and moved to the NASL to play for the Boston Minutemen in 1975, the year Pelé joined the New York Cosmos. The Eusebio-Pelé rivalry played out early in the season when the teams met at Nickerson Field June 20, 1975, the Minutemen winning, 2-1. Pelé left the game after his goal was ruled offside, the oversold crowd (estimated at 20,000-plus) storming the field, the result later annulled by NASL commissioner Phil Woosnam. Minutemen owner John Sterge was experiencing financial difficulties and facing Securities and Exchange Commission charges, so he sent Eusebio and Wolfgang Suhnholz to Toronto, where they won the 1976 Soccer Bowl title. [Read more…] about Jan. 5, 2014 – Benfica great Eusebio dies in Lisbon