Wes McLeod’s 63rd-minute finish past Arnie Mausser, who had bobbled the initial shot, made the difference in the opener of a two-game North American Soccer League playoff series. Keita had six shots and U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Ringo Cantillo (Tea Men captain) and Bob Newton four as the Tea Men outshot the Rowdies, 27-12, and had a 16-1 corner kick edge. [Read more…] about Aug. 27, 1980 – Tea Men 0:1 Tampa Bay, final NASL game at Schaefer Stadium (Att.: 17,121)
Foxboro Stadium (1971-2001) was designed for NFL games and had no soccer specifications. But the facility ended up with a strong soccer legacy, serving as home to two professional teams (New England Tea Men, New England Revolution); playing host to six 1994 World Cup matches; two MLS Cups (including the inaugural final in 1996); several internationals, including World Cup qualifiers; plus nine matches in the 1999 and 2003 Women’s World Cup; and the initial Women’s United Soccer Association final. [Read more…] about Aug. 25, 2001 – WUSA Founders Cup final at Foxboro Stadium. Bay Area CyberRays 3:3 Atlanta Beat (Att.: 21,078)
U.S. national team forward Benny Brewster’s 79th-minute goal made the difference. Brewster, born in Newton, Mass., played at Brown University, then played professionally with the Boston Astros, Wildcats, Boston Minutemen, Tacoma Tides and New England Tea Men before going on to a success coaching career with Boston College. [Read more…] about Aug. 22, 1973 – Connecticut Wildcats 1:0 Boston Astros at Dillon Stadium (Att.: 10,093)
A 37th-minute goal by Al Trost, making his international debut, made the difference in the last of four matches between the U.S. and Poland (after Lodz, Chicago and San Francisco) in 1973. The U.S. had a 3W-9L-0D record (also defeating Bermuda and Canada) in ‘73. [Read more…] about Aug. 12, 1973 – U.S. 1:0 Poland at Willowbrook Park (Att.: 10,000), New Britain, Conn.
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
Eusebio scored twice for Benfica in a Sunday afternoon exhibition involving Lisbon’s rival clubs. Marinho opened the scoring in the sixth minute for Sporting. Eusebio equalized (43rd minute) and broke the deadlock (80th), then Fernando Peres converted an 84th-minute penalty kick for Sporting. [Read more…] about July 16, 1972 – SL Benfica 2:2 Sporting CP. First soccer game at Schaefer (Foxboro) Stadium
Jamaica national team forward Lloyd McLean’s 25th-minute goal opened the scoring, Pelé and Santos FC then dominating for a 7-1 victory over the Boston Beacons at Fenway Park. Toninho scored twice for Santos, equalizing in the 33rd minute, Pelé converting the go-ahead goal. According to Peter Gammons’ story in The Boston Globe: “ … Although he only scored once and assisted on one goal (Pelé) proved to be one of the most exciting athletes anyone has seen in this area.” Bob Sales’ column compared Pelé to James Brown, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Sandy Koufax and Bobby Orr. [Read more…] about July 8, 1968 – Pele’s Boston debut
The Tea Men squandered several chances to equalize, the best a Keith Weller off-target 76th-minute penalty kick after Salif Keita had been taken down. Keita, playing with a pulled hamstring, had been inserted after halftime in place of Gerry Daly, the Tea Men’s regular penalty taker, who had sustained a neck injury. [Read more…] about July 7, 1979 – New England Tea Men 1:2 New York Cosmos at Nickerson Field (Att.: 15,763)
This was the start to a productive week for Mike Flanagan, who scored eight goals as the New England Tea Men won three successive games. Flanagan would go on to be named NASL Most Valuable Player, totaling 30 goals in 28 games. Flanagan, 24 when he joined the Tea Men on loan from Charlton Athletic, was transferred to Crystal Palace after the NASL season, then went to Queens Park Rangers (1980-82), returning to Charlton, then concluding his career with Cambridge United. [Read more…] about July 2, 1978 – Mike Flanagan-led New England Tea Men kick off winning streak, blank Sockers, Cosmos
The two greatest players of their era, Eusébio da Silva Ferreira and Edson Arantes do Nascimento “Pelé”, met in a competitive match for the first time since the 1966 World Cup as the Boston Minutemen took a 2-1 extra time win over the New York Cosmos before an overflow crowd at Boston University’s Nickerson Field. Overflow is the operative word, since the stadium was dangerously oversold, fans standing at field level behind the goals.
Eusébio converted the opening goal on a free kick for the Minutemen, then Pelé scored a disallowed goal (former Harvard goalkeeper Shep Messing deflected a shot over the end line, the ball ricocheting back off spectators), the crowd rushing on to the field. Mark Liveric scored a late equalizer and Wolfgang Suhnholz broke the deadlock in extra time.
The Cosmos protested the game and the result was nullified by NASL commissioner Phil Woosnam on July 1.
Among the best recountings of the game is in Messing’s “The Education of an American Soccer Player.”
The stadium was more than rocking, the stands filled and traffic on Commonwealth Avenue locked up an hour before kickoff.
“It sounds like a soccer crowd in fucking El Salvador,” Messing noted.
The time marked the beginning of the demise of the Minutemen with the start of an SEC investigation into Minutemen owner John Sterge’s petroleum investments in May and the advent of the relaunch of the Cosmos, with the June 10, 1975 signing of Pelé to a $4.5 million contract.
Eusébio and Pelé were near the end of their careers, but both had enough left to lead their teams to championships.
The Minutemen realized this could be their opportunity.
“Any locker room that houses Eusébio should be declared a shrine,” Messing wrote.
Had Sterge been able to maintain the financing, the Minutemen might have made their name on the field. The Minutemen won the NASL’s Northern Division and the Cosmos finished third in 1975. Eusébio and Suhnholz moved to Toronto Metros-Croatia, leading them to the 1976 NASL Soccer Bowl title. Pelé and the Cosmos won the 1977 Soccer Bowl.
June 20, 1975 – Boston Minutemen 2:1 (aet) New York Cosmos at Nickerson Field (Att.: 20,000 est.)
TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY