Ponta Delgada first team to win both U.S. Open Cup & U.S. Amateur Cup. Ponta Delgada came close to two successive doubles; in 1946, Ponta Delgada won the U.S. Amateur Cup and lost to the Chicago Vikings (3-2 aggregate) in the U.S. Open Cup final. In the 1948 Olympics, the U.S. team included captain Joseph Rego-Costa and four of his Ponta Delgada teammates: Joe Ferreira, Manuel Martin, Ed Souza and John Souza. Goals: Quinn (PK), Mejia; Ferreira, Valentine, Jim Delgado. [Read more…] about Sept. 7, 1947 – Chicago Sparta 2:3 (3:9) Ponta Delgada SC, U.S. Open Cup final, Sparta Stadium (Att. 5,000)
Ponta Delgada SC
June 13, 1948 – Ponta Delgada SC 1:2 Brookhattan Galicia, National Challenge Cup semifinals
Ponta Delgada, defending National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) and U.S. Amateur Cup champion, sustained its first home loss in four seasons. Haiti’s Joe Gaetjens, who would go on to star for the U.S. national team, led the way, the Boston Globe misspelling his first name: “Center forward Jose Gaetjens scored both Brookhattan goals.”
May 17, 1950 – NE All-Stars 0:2 Manchester United at Fall River (Att.: 3,704)
Manchester United’s first New England appearance. The New England All-Stars consisted mostly of the Ponta Delgada SC team, including World Cup-bound Ed Souza and John Souza. Tom Bogan opened the scoring in the 14th minute. Ed Souza missed a 79th-minute penalty with a chance to equalize. [Read more…] about May 17, 1950 – NE All-Stars 0:2 Manchester United at Fall River (Att.: 3,704)
April 22, 1950 – St. Louis Simpkins Ford 2:0 Ponta Delgada, National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) final first leg
Ponta Delgada SC was also competing in the U.S. Amateur Cup, and would win the title in May. In just more than a one-month span, Ponta Delgada’s players competed in a semifinal match, four finals (two in both the U.S. Amateur Cup and National Challenge Cup), plus exhibitions against Manchester United (as part of an All-Star team) and Besikstas, while preparing for the 1950 World Cup. [Read more…] about April 22, 1950 – St. Louis Simpkins Ford 2:0 Ponta Delgada, National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) final first leg
Feb. 13, 1938 – Ponta Delgada 2:1 (7:6 aggregate) Lusitania Recreation SC at Bigberry Stadium (Att.: 3,000)
Ponta Delgada captured this first-round National Open Cup (U.S. Open Cup) series after three games, totaling 6 hours, 34 minutes of playing time. [Read more…] about Feb. 13, 1938 – Ponta Delgada 2:1 (7:6 aggregate) Lusitania Recreation SC at Bigberry Stadium (Att.: 3,000)
May 17, 1950 – Manchester United’s first New England appearance
The New England All-Stars essentially consisted of the Ponta Delgada SC team, including Ed Souza and John Souza, who would go on to play for the U.S. in the World Cup a few weeks later. In this game, Manchester United went ahead on a 14th-minute Tom Bogan goal. Ed Souza missed a 79th-minute penalty kick with a chance to equalize. In the final minutes, Johnnie Downie scored off a pass from inside left Charlie Mitten, considered the match’s top performer. Mitten went on to sign with Independiente Santa Fe in Colombia, earning a ban from British football and the nickname “The Bogota Bandit.” The only Manchester United player who competed in this game to go on to the ’50 World Cup was Henry Cockburn, who was not in the England lineup against the U.S. [Read more…] about May 17, 1950 – Manchester United’s first New England appearance