Wes McLeod’s 63rd-minute finish past Arnie Mausser, who had bobbled the initial shot, made the difference in the opener of a two-game North American Soccer League playoff series. Keita had six shots and U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Ringo Cantillo (Tea Men captain) and Bob Newton four as the Tea Men outshot the Rowdies, 27-12, and had a 16-1 corner kick edge. [Read more…] about Aug. 27, 1980 – Tea Men 0:1 Tampa Bay, final NASL game at Schaefer Stadium (Att.: 17,121)
Steve Potter and Paul Duffy scored second-half goals as the Bolts took a 2-0 win over the Strikers, evening the series at 1-1. The Strikers then won, 1-0, on Marcelo Carrera’s eighth-minute goal in a 30-minute “mini-game.” Carrera, who began his career with Independiente in Argentina, went on to play for the Columbus Crew in MLS and Strikers coach Thomas Rongen guided the Revolution to their first playoff appearance in 1997. [Read more…] about Aug. 26, 1989 – Boston Bolts 2:0 (0:1 “mini-game”) Fort Lauderdale Strikers, ASL final at Nickerson Field (Att.: 5,370)
Foxboro Stadium (1971-2001) was designed for NFL games and had no soccer specifications. But the facility ended up with a strong soccer legacy, serving as home to two professional teams (New England Tea Men, New England Revolution); playing host to six 1994 World Cup matches; two MLS Cups (including the inaugural final in 1996); several internationals, including World Cup qualifiers; plus nine matches in the 1999 and 2003 Women’s World Cup; and the initial Women’s United Soccer Association final. [Read more…] about Aug. 25, 2001 – WUSA Founders Cup final at Foxboro Stadium. Bay Area CyberRays 3:3 Atlanta Beat (Att.: 21,078)
On Aug. 8, 2014, the Revolution announced they had put in a claim for Jermaine Jones and, 16 days later, team president Brian Bilello received a call confirming Jones as a Revolution player. The Revolution had taken a 1-0 win over Chivas USA on Aug. 23, 2014 and, the next day, a “blind draw” (Chicago and New England the candidates) for Jones’ rights was held in MLS offices in New York. [Read more…] about Aug. 24, 2014 – Jermaine Jones assigned to Revolution as DP
The Boston Wonder Workers helped spark a controversy by recruiting Scottish players for the initial season in the American Soccer League in 1924-25. Rangers captain Tommy Muirhead, who joined the Wonder Workers as player-coach, and Scottish international Alex McNab (Morton) were out of contract, and fullback Tommy McMillan (Dunfermline) was considered a free transfer. [Read more…] about Aug. 23, 1924 – USFA meeting at Hotel Wolcott in New York to discuss “Reported jumping of contracts by professionals and possible methods of meeting these conditions.”
U.S. national team forward Benny Brewster’s 79th-minute goal made the difference. Brewster, born in Newton, Mass., played at Brown University, then played professionally with the Boston Astros, Wildcats, Boston Minutemen, Tacoma Tides and New England Tea Men before going on to a success coaching career with Boston College. [Read more…] about Aug. 22, 1973 – Connecticut Wildcats 1:0 Boston Astros at Dillon Stadium (Att.: 10,093)
Soccer night games in the U.S. go back to 1923, General Electric’s team showing the way, according to The Boston Globe. In England, the first lighted stadium was Bramall Lane, home of Sheffield United, in 1878. [Read more…] about Aug. 21, 1929 – New York Nationals 3:3 Fall River Marksmen at Polo Grounds (Att.: 1,500), “Soccer Game Played Under Arc Light … “
The U.S. joined FIFA in 1913 and played its first international as the “All-American” soccer team. Thomas “Tommy” Swords also has been listed as the first goal-scorer for the U.S. national team, though U.S. Soccer credits C.H. Spalding as first. A story in Aug. 21, 1916 editions of the Boston Globe names Spalding and C.H. Ellis as scorers, but does not credit the other goal to an individual: “The third goal for the Americans was won by free kicking.” [Read more…] about 20, 1916 – Thomas Swords first captain of U.S. national team. Sweden 2:3 U.S., Rasunda Stadium (Att.: 15,000).
The New England Revolution (11W-5L-6D, 39 points) took over the lead in the race for the Supporter’s Shield on Taylor Twellman’s 72nd-minute goal. Twellman made a back post run to finish Khano Smith’s cross, the sequence initiated by an Andy Dorman-Shalrie Joseph combination in a match played in near-90 degree temperatures and high-90 percent humidity. [Read more…] about Aug. 19, 2007 – Kansas City 0:1 Revolution at Arrowhead Stadium (Att. 9,035)
CMGI Field opened with a New England Revolution 2-0 win over Dallas, Taylor Twellman scoring both goals, on May 11, 2002. Gillette took over naming rights from College Marketing Group Information, an internet venture company, in early August.
Aug. 18, 2002 – Revolution 0:2 Chicago Fire at Gillette Stadium (Att.: 15,336) [Read more…] about Aug. 18, 2002 – First game at (renamed) Gillette Stadium