Celtic’s Ed Czerkiewicz (West Warwick, R.I.) plays in fourth of six U.S. Open Cup finals, Billy Gonsalves’ ninth consecutive final, at Starlight Park in the Bronx. Czerkiewicz, who also won a title with the Pawtucket Rangers, started at right fullback for the U.S. in the 1934 World Cup. [Read more…] about May 7, 1939 – St. Mary’s Celtic 4:1 [5:1] Manhattan Beer, National Challenge Cup final at Starlight Park (Att.: 8,000)
This match set standards for the National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) as a record crowd arrived for Bethlehem Steel’s second consecutive victory in the final in Pawtucket, R.I. Tommy Fleming’s 78th-minute penalty kick decided the match. [Read more…] about May 6, 1916 – Bethlehem Steel 1:0 Fall River Rovers, National Challenge Cup final at Coats Field (Att.: 15,000)
Fall River Rovers become first Massachusetts team to win National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) at J&P Coats Field in Pawtucket, R.I. U.S. national team captain Tommy Swords credited with goal at 30 seconds, though The Boston Globe story noted: “… this time it came 60 seconds after the ball was kicked off, on a drive 35 yards out, for which Duncan dove and barely missed.” [Read more…] about May 5, 1917 – Fall River Rovers 1:0 Bethlehem Steel, National Challenge Cup final at Coats Field (Att.: 7,500)
Six-year National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) championship streak snapped for Shamrocks’ Billy Gonsalves and Alex McNab.
Gonsalves and McNab had teamed to win the title with the Fall River Marksmen, New Bedford Whalers, St. Louis Stix, Baer & Fuller and St. Louis Central Breweries from 1930-35. [Read more…] about May 3, 1936 – Philadelphia German-Americans 3:0 (5:2) St. Louis Shamrocks, National Challenge Cup final (Att.: 10,000)
Tommy Fleming, a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, goes on to play for J&P Coats, Fall River Marksmen, Boston SC and other New England teams, and coach at Quincy (Mass.) High School. Fleming (b. 1890) left Scotland as a teenager, starting his U.S. playing career with Fore River FC in 1907.
Bethlehem Steel 3:1 Brooklyn Celtic, U.S. Open Cup final at Taylor Field, Bethlehem, Pa. (Att.: 7,000) [Read more…] about May 1, 1915 – Tommy Fleming converts penalty kick, Bethlehem Steel wins National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup)
Boston Bolts take first “victory,” the result against the Orlando Lions decided by post-match penalty kicks during a rainstorm at Nickerson Field. [Read more…] about April 30, 1988 – Boston Bolts 1:1 Orlando Lions, Bolts’ inaugural home match (Att.: 4,028)
Taylor Twellman scored a 13th-minute goal past Shaka Hislop for the New England Revolution in a preview of the 2007 U.S. Open Cup final. The Revolution lost the 2005 and ’06 MLS Cup finals at Pizza Hut Park. [Read more…] about April 29, 2007 – FC Dallas 0:1 Revolution at Pizza Hut Park (Att.: 9,165)
“The Robins Dry Dock soccer team of Brooklyn got sweet revenge on the Fore River team of Quincy …” Fore River had defeated Robins in the National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) semifinals on April 10, 1920. That would be Robins Dry Dock’s only loss of the 1915-16 season — Robins went on to defeat Bethlehem Steel in the American Cup final on May 2, 1920. (The Boston Globe) [Read more…] about April 24, 1920 – Robins Dry Dock 2:0 Fore River, American Cup semifinals at Pawtucket, R.I. (Att.: 8,000)
The Fall River Marksmen were on the way to their second National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) title. Goals: McEachren, Campbell; Goldie. [Read more…] about April 23, 1927 – Fall River Marksmen 2:1 Bethlehem Steel, National Challenge Cup Eastern final at Providence (Att.: 7,000)
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