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
U.S. Open Cup
April 19, 1927 – Boston SC 3:2 Nacional (Uruguay), Pearl St. Stadium – Malden, Mass. (Att.: 7,000)
Patriots’ Day game interrupted by on-field brawl. On April 18, Gov. Alvan Fuller received the reigning Copa America and Olympic champions at the State House (Fuller was also being petitioned to review the Sacco & Vanzetti case). The Boston Marathon was conducted in 82-degree heat. Only three runners broke three-hour mark, Clarence De Mar winning in 2 hours, 40 minutes. [Read more…] about April 19, 1927 – Boston SC 3:2 Nacional (Uruguay), Pearl St. Stadium – Malden, Mass. (Att.: 7,000)
April 18, 1914 – New Bedford FC 1:2 Brooklyn FC, National Challenge Cup semis at Pawtucket, R.I. (Att.: 4,000)
Brooklyn Field Club went on to win the initial National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) at Coats Field in Pawtucket on May 16, 1914. Brooklyn’s Scottish inside left, Robert Millar, became coach of the U.S. national team in the 1930 World Cup. [Read more…] about April 18, 1914 – New Bedford FC 1:2 Brooklyn FC, National Challenge Cup semis at Pawtucket, R.I. (Att.: 4,000)
April 16, 1934 – Stix, Baer & Fuller 5:0 Pawtucket Rangers, National Challenge Cup final, Walsh Memorial Stadium (Att.: 8,000)
Five days before the National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) final, the U.S. team was selected for the 1934 World Cup in Italy. The U.S. team included eight players from the final: Billy Gonsalves, B. Lehman, Willie McLean, Werner “Scotty” Nilsen (Stix, Baer & Fuller); and Eddie Czerkiewicz, Walter Dick, Tommy Florie, Joe Martinelli (Pawtucket Rangers). [Read more…] about April 16, 1934 – Stix, Baer & Fuller 5:0 Pawtucket Rangers, National Challenge Cup final, Walsh Memorial Stadium (Att.: 8,000)
April 15, 2000 – Revolution 2:1 [aet] D.C. United, Revolution’s first victory with Fernando Clavijo as coach (Att.: 15,174)
Fernando Clavijo would guide the New England Revolution to their first .500 season (13W-13L-6D) and their first playoff victory in 2000, and their first tournament final (2001 U.S. Open Cup). [Read more…] about April 15, 2000 – Revolution 2:1 [aet] D.C. United, Revolution’s first victory with Fernando Clavijo as coach (Att.: 15,174)
April 10, 1920 – Fore River FC 2:1 Robins Dry Dock at Coats Field, Pawtucket, R.I. (Att.: 10,000)
Fore River FC’s performance in the National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) impressed the Boston Globe’s George M. Collins: “Never before in the history of a soccer game has a team been accorded the mad reception that greeted the Quincy eleven when it scored its second goal. The big crowd went crazy. … When Underwood whipped the ball past Renzulli into the net, all the pent-up feeling of the New England crowd rent the air – such a dancing and war whooping as was never staged at a soccer game before.” [Read more…] about April 10, 1920 – Fore River FC 2:1 Robins Dry Dock at Coats Field, Pawtucket, R.I. (Att.: 10,000)
April 8, 1934 – Pawtucket Rangers 3:2 Stix, Baer & Fuller, National Challenge Cup final 2nd leg at Coats Field (Att.: 8,000)
The 1934 National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) final extended to a third game. [Read more…] about April 8, 1934 – Pawtucket Rangers 3:2 Stix, Baer & Fuller, National Challenge Cup final 2nd leg at Coats Field (Att.: 8,000)
April 5, 1931 – Bert Patenaude scores five goals in U.S. Open Cup final
Bert Patenaude (b. Nov. 4, 1909) scored 13 goals, Billy Gonsalves (b. Aug. 10, 1908) added 9 in the Fall River Marksmen Cup campaign. Patenaude and Gonsalves, who had teamed to help the U.S. to the semifinals of the 1930 World Cup, grew up in Fall River, Mass., and could have been expected to lead the U.S. national for years to come. [Read more…] about April 5, 1931 – Bert Patenaude scores five goals in U.S. Open Cup final
April 4, 1919 – Fall River named site of National Challenge Cup final, scheduled April 19, 1919
Fall River, Mass., is considered “New England’s leading soccer city … Bay State as the leading section in soccer in the United States. … Pawtucket, where several final contests have been played, holds the record for attendance at a soccer game in America.”(The Boston Globe) [Read more…] about April 4, 1919 – Fall River named site of National Challenge Cup final, scheduled April 19, 1919
April 3, 1932 – New Bedford Whalers win National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup)
The New Bedford Whalers were led by Billy Gonsalves, Alex McNab, Bill McPherson and Werner “Scotty” Nilsen. Those four players had combined to win the 1930 and ’31 U.S. Open Cup when the team was based in Fall River, and would go on to win the U.S. Open Cup with Stix, Baer & Fuller in 1933 and 1934. [Read more…] about April 3, 1932 – New Bedford Whalers win National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup)