This was the New England Revolution’s first MLS playoff home game and former Italian national team forward Giuseppe Galderisi’s final game. [Read more…] about Oct. 8, 1997 – Revolution 1:1 D.C. United at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 16,233)
Thomas Rongen
July 15, 1998 – Revolution 0:1 D.C. United at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 17,206)
Roy Lassiter’s 81st-minute goal made the difference as the New England Revolution lost their sixth successive home match (on the way to an eight-game home losing streak). Mike Burns and Joe-Max-Moore had returned from playing for the U.S. in the World Cup in France (along with coach Thomas Rongen, who had been a scout on Steve Sampson’s staff), but the Revolution failed to recover from an earlier nine-match losing streak. [Read more…] about July 15, 1998 – Revolution 0:1 D.C. United at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 17,206)
April 13, 1996 – New England Revolution’s first game
Tampa Bay Mutiny 3:2 Revolution at Tampa Stadium (Att.: 26,473)
Rob Ukrop gave the Revolution a 20th-minute lead, finishing a Welton cross, Alexi Lalas starting the sequence from central defense. The Mutiny scored on three set pieces, Revolution defender Mike Burns disputing the foul that led to the third goal, saying “the referee (Zimmerman Boulos) knows he made a mistake.” Roy Lassiter’s 25th-minute goal tied the score, the first of his 27 for the season, which remains an MLS record. Ivan McKinley, who would play for the Revolution from 1997-2000, broke the deadlock early in the second half, and U.S. national team defender Steve Pittman converted off a Carlos Valderrama assist for a 3-1 lead, before Ukrop cut the deficit in the 70th minute. Ukrop would not score another goal for the Revolution, and was waived after playing nine games as the team set up roster space for acquiring Joe-Max Moore. [Read more…] about April 13, 1996 – New England Revolution’s first game
Feb. 2, 1997 – Revolution select Scott Coufal in 2nd round of MLS draft
The plan was for Scott Coufal to learn the trade from Walter Zenga, but after Zenga sustained a knee injury, Coufal became the Revolution’s starter. The timing was bad, as the Revolution were in a mid-season slump and would sustain a 10-game losing streak, recovering only after Zenga’s return. Coufal started in goal for three games of the streak, then the Revolution brought in Jeff Causey, who would go on to become a regular with the team through 2002, but could do little to prevent the losses from continuing.
Revolution coach Thomas Rongen had gambled with Coufal as Zenga’s backup. An alternative might have been Khalil Azmi, who had been Morocco’s starter in the 1994 World Cup and had remained in the Boston area, acquiring a green card. With Zenga in goal, the Revolution rallied to clinch their first MLS playoff berth. [Read more…] about Feb. 2, 1997 – Revolution select Scott Coufal in 2nd round of MLS draft
Jan. 31, 1998 – Revolution select Johnny Torres with No. 5 pick in MLS draft
Johnny Torres had a strong career with the Revolution, totaling eight goals in 88 appearances before being traded in 2001. Coach Thomas Rongen revamped the Revolution for the ’98 season, building the team around experienced players. Torres (now a Creighton University assistant coach) fit in well with the veterans. But a lack of chemistry proved costly as the Revolution failed to advance to the MLS playoffs.
The ’98 draft included other players who would go on to play important roles with the Revolution, including No. 1 pick Leo Cullen, who the Revolution would acquire from Miami in a trade for Torres in 2001. Also, there were Daniel Hernandez (second round), Joe Franchino and Matt Reis (third round). Several others went on to have success in direct confrontations with the Revolution: Tyrone Marshall (No. 9 pick), Wade Barrett (No. 10), Pablo Mastroeni (second round).
Below is my 2/1/1998 Globe story: [Read more…] about Jan. 31, 1998 – Revolution select Johnny Torres with No. 5 pick in MLS draft