Rain contributed to keeping the crowd numbers down for the Boston Bolts in the home-opener of their second season. The Bolts went on to reach the ASL final, falling to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in a mini-game Aug. 26, 1989. [Read more…] about April 29, 1989 – Boston Bolts 0:0 Washington Diplomats at Nickerson Field (Att. 2,151)
April 28, 1917 – New Bedford Celtics 2:1 Fore River, Southern New England series
Andy Stradan gave Fore River the lead, then McDavitt and Croasdale countered for the Celtics. Stradan (also spelled Straden) went on to play for the U.S., converting a penalty kick in a 1-0 win over Estonia in the 1924 Olympics. The Fore River lineup also included center half Page, who, a year later, might have been among the first players to make a gymnastic goal commemoration. [Read more…] about April 28, 1917 – Turning handsprings
The New England Revolution were the last team to make their MLS debut, officials scaling Foxboro Stadium to 22,385 for the initial season. A week before the home-opener, though, more tickets (price range: $9-$23) were released. The Revolution played D.C. United to a 1-1 draw, then won the post-match shootout before 32,864 (the Red Sox-Kansas City Royals game attracted 29,459 during the day). Raul Diaz Arce scored on a 24th-minute diving header, then the Revolution’s Geoff Aunger tied the score with an 80th-minute penalty kick, and Darren Sawatzky converted the decider in the shootout. Future Revolution players played key roles for D.C. United: Diaz Arce, plus Kris Kelderman (who fouled Paul Keegan to set up the penalty kick) and Jeff Causey, who was in goal in the shootout. [Read more…] about April 27, 1996 – Revolution outdraw Red Sox in inaugural home game
Boston Soccer Club won the equivalent of a national championship, defeating St. Louis champion Ben Millers, 3-2.
The Boston Globe : “The day was too hot for good soccer.” The Millers’ Tommy White suffered a fractured leg in the first seven minutes of play (in the second half) in a collision with W. Ballantyne. [Read more…] about April 26, 1925 – Boston Wonder Workers earn U.S. soccer title, trip to White House
The Revolution were on the way down and Real Salt Lake on the way up. Though the Revolution closed the regular season with a winning record (11-10-9), they were eliminated by Chicago in the first round of the playoffs. RSL edged into the post-season on goal difference, then won the 2009 MLS Cup. The Revolution’s next visit to Salt Lake City resulted in a 5-0 defeat July 2, 2010, as the team was on the way to experiencing three consecutive losing seasons. [Read more…] about April 25, 2009 – Real Salt Lake 6:0 Revolution. Worst Revolution regular-season defeat
Tommy Swords’ 16th-minute goal made the difference for Fall River Rovers in the National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) played in the Tacony section of Philadelphia. Less than four months later, Swords would become the first captain of the U.S. Men’s National Team on a visit to Scandinavia. Swords, a Fall River, Mass., native, was referred to as “formerly halfback of the Hibernians of this city (Philadelphia).” The result qualified the Rovers to meet Bethlehem Steel for “the first real National championship contest in this country” in Pawtucket, R.I., May 6, according to The Boston Globe story. [Read more…] about April 24, 1916 – Disston AA 0:1 Fall River Rovers, National Challenge Cup semifinal
Boston Beacons investors included the Celtics’ Red Auerbach and Red Sox general manager Dick O’Connell. The team had hired coach Jack Mansell a year earlier, but had been unable to make player acquisitions until shortly before the start of the 1968 season. On the eve of the opener, team spokesman Joe McKenney said the Beacons were “hoping for 5,000” attendance. Ticket prices ranged from $1 to $4.50. Leigh Montville’s preview in the Boston Globe noted the crowd would include Cardinal Cushing and the governor, John A. Volpe, and the team would provide a pre-game demonstration of the rules of the game. [Read more…] about April 23, 1968 – Boston Beacons 3:0 Detroit Cougars at Fenway Park (Att. 4,406). Beacons’ inaugural home match
Ponta Delgada, which won one of its six U.S. Amateur Cup titles in 1950, would fall in the National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) final after a 1-1 return leg draw in North Tiverton, R.I., May 7. Ponta Delgada won one U.S. Open Cup title, in 1947 (when it also won the U.S. Amateur Cup). [Read more…] about April 22, 1950 – St. Louis Simpkins Ford 2:0 Ponta Delgada SC. U.S. Open Cup final first leg
New England Revolution investor/operator Jonathan Kraft said the team had released additional tickets for the Saturday, April 27 visit from D.C. United. On April 20, the Revolution registered their first victory (1-0 over the New York/New Jersey MetroStars at Giants Stadium). Earlier in the month, the 22,000 initial capacity at Foxboro Stadium had been sold out. [Read more…] about April 21, 1996 – New England Revolution prepare for inaugural MLS home game
Carlos Hermosillo blocked a Kasey Keller attempted clearance into the net 38 seconds into the game, fastest goal in Foxboro Stadium history. Then, dos a dos was considered a very positive result for the U.S. national team, but the most significant figure associated with this match was the crowd total: 57,407 (more than 17,000 more than the previous high for a U.S. home World Cup Qualifier).
Mexico coach Bora Milutinovic took credit for encouraging Hermosillo to pressure Keller on clearances, the strategy paying off as the “early goal silenced the crowd of 57,407.” Milutinovic wore a Soccer America magazine scarf honoring him as the best U.S. national team coach in the last 25 years. The U.S. scored as Eddie Pope headed in a free kick (35th minute), the Luis Hernandez chipped Keller (54th), and Nicolas Ramirez surrendered an own goal by heading an Earnie Stewart cross (74th). Hernandez earned a late caution for tripping the New England Revolution’s Alexi Lalas.
Foxborough used to be the go-to site for the USMNT, which went unbeaten (7-0-3) at Foxboro Stadium from 1991-2001. The USMNT has a combined 5-0-1 record in World Cup Qualifiers at Foxboro/Gillette.
U.S. 2:2 Mexico, First WCQ at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 57,407).
TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY