Frank Dell'Apa

frankdellapa@gmail.com

July 8, 1968 – Pele’s Boston debut

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Jamaica national team forward Lloyd McLean’s 25th-minute goal opened the scoring, Pelé and Santos FC then dominating for a 7-1 victory over the Boston Beacons at Fenway Park. Toninho scored twice for Santos, equalizing in the 33rd minute, Pelé converting the go-ahead goal. According to Peter Gammons’ story in The Boston Globe: “ … Although he only scored once and assisted on one goal (Pelé) proved to be one of the most exciting athletes anyone has seen in this area.” Bob Sales’ column compared Pelé to James Brown, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Sandy Koufax and Bobby Orr. [Read more…] about July 8, 1968 – Pele’s Boston debut

July 7, 1979 – New England Tea Men 1:2 New York Cosmos at Nickerson Field (Att.: 15,763)

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The Tea Men squandered several chances to equalize, the best a Keith Weller off-target 76th-minute penalty kick after Salif Keita had been taken down. Keita, playing with a pulled hamstring, had been inserted after halftime in place of Gerry Daly, the Tea Men’s regular penalty taker, who had sustained a neck injury. [Read more…] about July 7, 1979 – New England Tea Men 1:2 New York Cosmos at Nickerson Field (Att.: 15,763)

July 6, 1936 – Andrew W. “Poly” Guyda selected for U.S. Olympic team

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Guyda was in the U.S. starting lineup for a 1-0 loss to Italy in the 1936 Olympics.

Poly Guyda (or Gajda) was born in Manchester, N.H., and played quarterback for the high school football team, then attended Lowell Institute and MIT. Guyda went on to star for several local teams, including the Boston Celtics and Lusitania Recreation, then became an assistant coach at Harvard into the mid-1950s. [Read more…] about July 6, 1936 – Andrew W. “Poly” Guyda selected for U.S. Olympic team

July 5, 1994 – Italy 2:1 (aet) Nigeria, World Cup quarterfinals at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 54,367)

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Robert Baggio’s 89th-minute goal sent the match into extra time, then Baggio converted a penalty kick, his first goals of the World Cup. Nigeria controlled the tempo for much of the match, thanks to the midfield play of Jay Jay Okocha and Sunday Oliseh and the second-half ejection of Gianfranco Zola to a controversial red card. But the Super Eagles’ defensive tactics failed as Baggio finished past Peter Rufai, then broke the deadlock after Antonio Benarrivo went down, Mexican referee Arturo Brizio Carter awarding the penalty kick in the 100th minute. [Read more…] about July 5, 1994 – Italy 2:1 (aet) Nigeria, World Cup quarterfinals at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 54,367)

July 4, 1996 – LA Galaxy 0:1 Revolution at Rose Bowl (Att.: 62,703)

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The New England Revolution won their first Independence Day match as former University of Vermont star Jim St. Andre had a spectacular performance in goal and the Revolution held off the Galaxy after Alexi Lalas’ 80th-minute red card, following an altercation with a ball boy. John Kerr’s sliding finish just ahead of former Williams College defender Dan Calichman made the difference. [Read more…] about July 4, 1996 – LA Galaxy 0:1 Revolution at Rose Bowl (Att.: 62,703)

July 3, 1930 – U.S. national team trains for first time since arriving in Montevideo for first World Cup

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U.S. arrived in Uruguay on the SS Munargo on July 1, 1930, after an 18-day journey with stops in Bermuda, Rio de Janeiro and Santos. From manager W.R. Cummings’ report: training “started on board the S.S. Munargo the morning after leaving Bermuda, June 17th, as a daily routine; and let it be said that it was acknowledged that we had the best conditioned outfit to participate in the World’s Series. … We continued strenuous daily practice sessions (rain or shine) alternating on the Nacional’s field at Central Park and Penarol’s field only a few blocks away from the hotel.”

[Read more…] about July 3, 1930 – U.S. national team trains for first time since arriving in Montevideo for first World Cup

July 2, 1978 – Mike Flanagan-led New England Tea Men kick off winning streak, blank Sockers, Cosmos

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This was the start to a productive week for Mike Flanagan, who scored eight goals as the New England Tea Men won three successive games. Flanagan would go on to be named NASL Most Valuable Player, totaling 30 goals in 28 games. Flanagan, 24 when he joined the Tea Men on loan from Charlton Athletic, was transferred to Crystal Palace after the NASL season, then went to Queens Park Rangers (1980-82), returning to Charlton, then concluding his career with Cambridge United. [Read more…] about July 2, 1978 – Mike Flanagan-led New England Tea Men kick off winning streak, blank Sockers, Cosmos

July 1, 1951 – Ludlow Lusitano 1:6 AIK Stockholm, Worcester, Mass. (Att.: 2,500)

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Worcester Mayor Andrew B. Holstrom presented the outstanding player trophy to AIK’s Ahlstrom, according to The Boston Globe. V. Ostlund scored twice as AIK took a 5-0 halftime lead, Moraes scoring for Lusitano in the fourth minute of the second half. AIK compiled a 9W-2L-1D on this tour (losses to Fall River and Vancouver).

[Read more…] about July 1, 1951 – Ludlow Lusitano 1:6 AIK Stockholm, Worcester, Mass. (Att.: 2,500)

June 30, 1994 – Nigeria 2:0 Greece, World Cup at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 53,001)

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With Diego Maradona’s suspension announced on June 29, 1994, Argentina lost its edge and risked dropping out of first place in Group D of the World Cup. The Argentines needed at least a draw against Bulgaria in the final group game at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, and they had a numerical advantage in a 0-0 match into the late going. Meanwhile, Nigeria held a 1-0 lead over Greece and coach Clemens Westerhof was monitoring things as Argentina fell behind to a Hristo Stoitchkov goal, the game concluding with the Bulgarians winning, 2-0.

[Read more…] about June 30, 1994 – Nigeria 2:0 Greece, World Cup at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 53,001)

June 29, 1950 – U.S. 1:0 England, World Cup at Estadio Independencia, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

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USA team: (back row, l-r) manager Chubby Lyons, Joe Maca, Charlie Colombo, Frank Borghi, Harry Keogh, Walter Bahr, coach Bill Jeffrey; (front row, l-r) Frank Wallace, Ed McIlvenny, Gino Pariani, Joe Gaetjens, John Souza, Ed Souza

The result of this first-round World Cup match was such a shock that many misleading reports resulted, including an Associated Press story in The Boston Globe crediting Ed Souza of Fall River, Mass., (instead of Joe Gaetjens) with a 39th-minute goal. [Read more…] about June 29, 1950 – U.S. 1:0 England, World Cup at Estadio Independencia, Belo Horizonte, Brazil