Long before the National Basketball Association version of the name, the Boston Celtics were a successful soccer club – “the Irish club from Sullivan Sq.” in Charlestown, according to The Boston Globe. Former U.S. national teamer Jackie Lyons, who played in the 1928 Olympics, led the way for the Celtics against the defending champion Clan MacGregor of Quincy.
Scotland took a 3-1 win over the New England All-Stars on the way to compiling an 8W-1L-0T record on North American tour. The Scots lost, 2-0, to Belfast Celtic at Triborough Stadium on Randall’s Island in New York May 29, 1949. Rangers’ Willie Thornton scored twice, Derby County’s Willie Steel once. Thornton converted off a 19th-minute McKenzie corner, then Frank “Shorty” Moniz equalized off a John Souza feed. Steel broke the deadlock, Scotland taking a two-goal halftime lead. [Read more…] about June 15, 1949 – Scots make a stop in Fall River
From my Boston Globe report: “The United States performed confidently, with a sense of purpose, and as if the players expected to win against Nigeria before a crowd of 22,578 that included small bands of flag-waving supporter groups from both countries.
Jay Jay Okocha’s eighth-minute goal opened the scoring, then John Harkes equalized with a 10th-minute long-distance blast. Taiwo Wasiu, making his international debut, broke the deadlock with a 19th-minute goal. The U.S. rallied on goals by Marcelo Balboa (45’) and Cobi Jones (87’). [Read more…] about June 11, 1995 – Birth of Sam’s Army, Foxborough, Mass.
News did not travel fast in those days, George M. Collins’ report (by mail) of the U.S. national team’s 3-2 win over Poland appearing in July 3, 1924 editions of The Boston Globe.
This was the seventh official international match for the U.S. national team (4W-2L-1T), according to the Society for American Soccer History. Brockton’s Herbert “Birdie” Wells’ third-minute goal gave the U.S. the lead and Fleisher Yarn’s Andy Stradan (formerly of Fore River) converted in the 30th and 47th minutes. [Read more…] about June 10, 1924 – AMERICAN SOCCER TEAM HAD A WONDERFUL TIME IN POLAND
This was also the first U.S. win over England since Joe Gaetjens’ goal provided a 1-0 result in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil. “Now we don’t have to talk about 1950 anymore,” U.S. Soccer Federation general secretary Hank Steinbrecher said.
The kickoff was delayed seven minutes because of a lightning storm that also likely reduced the side of the crowd. My story in the Boston Globe noted the weather presented a greater threat to public safety than potential hooligan behavior, which was a major concern in anticipation of the 1994 World Cup. [Read more…] about June 9, 1993 – U.S. 2:0 England, U.S. Cup at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 37,236). First U.S. victory in Foxborough
A wide gulf in talent and tactical acumen resulted in an embarrassing defeat for the U.S. national team against Spain. Santi Cazorla (28’, 41’) and Alvaro Negredo (32’) provided a 3-0 halftime lead and El Niño Torres added a 73rd-minute goal for the Spaniards, who had played once before in Foxborough, sustaining a 2-1 extra time loss to Italy in the World Cup quarterfinals at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 53,400) July 9, 1994. [Read more…] about June 4, 2011 – U.S. 0:4 Spain (Att.: 64,421). Biggest U.S. loss, and their biggest crowd, in Foxborough
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)
Clinton Drew Dempsey — named after the Man With No Name, Clint Eastwood — was 22 years old and in his second season with the New England Revolution when he established himself among the starting candidates for the U.S. national team. Dempsey has gone on to captain the USMNT, totaling 56 goals, second to Landon Donovan (57) on the all-time list.
May 28, 2005 – U.S. 1:2 England at Soldier Field, Chicago
Dempsey began his professional career as a Revolution holding midfielder in 2004. In the second month of the ’04 season, Revolution coach Steve Nicol switched to a 3-5-2 alignment; two weeks later, with Taylor Twellman absent, Dempsey made his first start at forward, paired with Pat Noonan. [Read more…] about May 28, 2005 – Clint Dempsey scores first international goal
Billy Gonsalves pushed for Buff Donelli to be included in the U.S. national team, and Donelli scored every goal for the U.S. in a 4-2 victory over Mexico in a playoff match in Rome May 24, 1934. Three days later, Italy took a 3-0 halftime lead before Donelli’s 57th-minute conversion.
It seemed strange that FIFA would require two CONCACAF teams to travel to Italy to contest a play-in match, especially since a Trans-Atlantic voyage involved several weeks. If the U.S.-Mexico game had been considered part of the World Cup, Donelli would have tied with Czechoslovakia’s Oldrich Nejedly for the Golden Boot with five goals. [Read more…] about May 27, 1934 – Aldo (Buff) Donelli scores only goal for U.S. in World Cup opener