Steve Ralston surpassed Carlos Valderrama on the MLS career assist list in his 354th game, starting the sequence leading to Andy Dorman’s 38th-minute goal as the New England Revolution took a 1-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls. [Read more…] about July 14, 2007 – Steve Ralston sets MLS record with 115th assist
Manchester United dominated as the largest crowd for a Revolution friendly arrived at Gillette Stadium. 19-year-old Federico Macheda scored twice for the Red Devils, making their fourth New England appearance in 61 years. Man United’s previous visits included victories by 2-0 over the New England All-Stars (just before the 1950 World Cup, sort of a preview of the U.S. upset victory over England in Belo Horizonte); 11-1 over the Fall River All-Stars in 1952; and 7-0 over Fall River SC in 1960. [Read more…] about July 13, 2011 – Revolution 1:4 Manchester United (Att.: 51,523)
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
Worcester Mayor Andrew B. Holstrom presented the outstanding player trophy to AIK’s Ahlstrom, according to The Boston Globe. V. Ostlund scored twice as AIK took a 5-0 halftime lead, Moraes scoring for Lusitano in the fourth minute of the second half. AIK compiled a 9W-2L-1D on this tour (losses to Fall River and Vancouver).
[Read more…] about July 1, 1951 – Ludlow Lusitano 1:6 AIK Stockholm, Worcester, Mass. (Att.: 2,500)
When Lowell’s John Bertos started the Astros in the mid-1960s, he acted as owner, coach and goalkeeper. Bertos had to be resourceful, as the team moved from Fall River, to Boston to Worcester, competing in the American Soccer League from 1969 until 1975, when the team finished as co-champion of the league. Bertos brought in talented Brazilian players, such as Decio Brito, a former Pelé teammate at Santos FC and brother of Seleçāo star Brito. Bertos, whose son, Mike, was a standout at Boston University, went on to coach Lowell High School’s soccer team in the ‘80s. [Read more…] about June 24, 1972 – Boston Astros prepare for Pele’
The Scots were setting footballing standards with their precision short passing game in the 1920s. The Scotland national team had destroyed England, 5-1, in the British Home Championship at Wembley March 31, 1928. After the match, Alex James said “we could have had 10,” and the team was nicknamed “The Wizards of Wembley,” the performance so commanding it remains a symbol of the excellence of Scottish soccer. [Read more…] about June 3, 1928 – Fall River Marksmen 0:0 Glasgow Rangers at Mark’s Stadium (Att.: 15,500)
Ireland’s Tony Cascarino (57th minute) opened the scoring before Eric Wynalda slipped past Kevin Moran for a 68th-minute equalizer off a Chris Henderson assist as the U.S. Men’s National Team made its Massachusetts debut.
Organizers budgeted for a 30,000 crowd, but a week before the match, stadium manager Brian O’Donovan projected possible 35,000 attendance. The walk-up took officials by surprise, with about 12,000 purchasing tickets at the gate (thousands of tickets were printed on-site), lines stretching toward Rte. 1 throughout the first half. [Read more…] about June 1, 1991 – U.S. 1:1 Ireland at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 51,273). First full international in Massachusetts
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)
This was the second year of the Lewis Cup competition, the equivalent of the League Cup for ASL teams. The Whalers won the home leg, 5-1, at Battery Park in New Bedford May 22, 1926. According to the Boston Globe, Jimmy Montgomerie “lost a penalty,” meaning he either missed a penalty kick or surrendered one – the Giants’ right back Charlie Kelly did convert a PK. The Whalers had two own goals, Neil Turner scored twice, and Andy Stevens (who totaled 44 goals in 39 league matches) converted just before the final whistle. [Read more…] about May 23, 1926 – New York Giants 3:0 (4:5 aggregate) New Bedford Whalers, Lewis Cup final at the Oval