Frank Dell'Apa

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Feb. 20, 1997 – Revolution acquire Chiquinho Conde from Vitoria Setubal

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Chiquinho Conde totaled 6 goals in 17 games for the New England Revolution in their second season. Conde might have produced more, but his season was interrupted by trips for World Cup qualifying matches. Traveling to Mozambique was exceedingly time-consuming. Conde played two games in Maputo and a third in Mauritius. And Conde had to make a fourth visit to attend the funeral of a brother.

Meanwhile, the Revolution were struggling, and coach Thomas Rongen jumped at the chance to bring back Giuseppe Galderisi, so he traded Chiquinho to Tampa Bay. Galderisi helped the Revolution qualify for the playoffs for the first time. [Read more…] about Feb. 20, 1997 – Revolution acquire Chiquinho Conde from Vitoria Setubal

Feb. 19, 2014 – Revolution acquire Teal Bunbury from Sporting Kansas City

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Less than three weeks after joining the New England Revolution, Teal Bunbury became starter in the season-opener. Bunbury has been in the opening day starting lineup three successive seasons, totaling 98 appearances and 15 goals in all competitions for the Revolution. Bunbury has been at his best in the MLS post-season and U.S. Open Cup competitions, scoring twice the Revolution’s run to the 2014 MLS Cup final and three times on the way to last year’s U.S. Open Cup final.

Bunbury’s left-footer from outside the penalty area at Red Bull Arena provided the first goal in the Revolution’s win over the New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference finals. The Revolution wisely attacked the Red Bulls’ Ambroise Oyongo early on, and the move paid off as Bunbury easily outmaneuvered Oyongo for the score. At the time, Oyongo might have been considered a Red Bulls’ weak point, but he has become a starter for the Montreal Impact and Cameroon’s title-winning team in the African Nations Cup.

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY

Feb. 18, 2016 – Revolution acquire Je-Vaughn Watson from FC Dallas

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Je-Vaughn Watson proved to be among the New England Revolution’s most valuable and versatile players, sparking the team’s run to the U.S. Open Cup final last year. Watson, who has been playing as a holding midfielder and captaining the Jamaica national team, played in the back and midfield for the Revolution.

Watson started at left back in the Revolution’s season-opener, a 3-3 draw at Houston. Watson moved to right back for the next game, and by the next month had started in central defense, as well. Watson totaled three goals – a game-winner against Chicago in an MLS game, the go-ahead score (and deciding penalty kick) against the Philadelphia Union in the Open Cup, and the decider against Chicago in the semifinals. [Read more…] about Feb. 18, 2016 – Revolution acquire Je-Vaughn Watson from FC Dallas

Feb. 17, 2006 – Clint Dempsey scores 5 goals in preseason game

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Clint Dempsey joined the Revolution as a defensive midfielder in 2004, but began emerging as an attacking threat early on. By ’06, Dempsey had become a regular with the U.S. national team, though he did not solidify a starting role until the final game of 2006 World Cup group play. In the preseason, Dempsey totaled 7 goals – he scored 5 goals in an 8-1 win over the Bermuda U-20 national team on this day.

Dempsey scored 8 goals in 21 games for the Revolution (plus another 4 for the U.S.) in ‘06. But, by the end of the season, Dempsey and several teammates were playing injured. The lack of an adequate bench, plus some physical opposition along the way, caused the Revolution to be below par in the MLS Cup final; Dempsey and Steve Ralston were unable to participate in penalty kicks as the Revolution lost to the Houston Dynamo after playing to a 1-1 draw.

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY

Feb. 16, 1929 – Goal-scorers & ‘keepers

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There had been evidence the U.S. could produce high level goal-scorers and goalkeepers in the early part of the century, as Archie Stark (253 goals), Johnny Nelson (223) and Davey Brown (189) became the top three career scorers in the American Soccer League. New Englanders included U.S. national team captain Tommy Florie (126) and U.S. national team stars Bert Patenaude (118) and Billy Gonsalves (92). Lower-profile scorers also were emerging, such as Arnie Oliver and Freddie Wall. On this day, Wall scored twice as Philadelphia FC handed the Providence Gold Bugs their only home defeat of second half of ASL season with a 3-2 decision. Wall, born in Fall River, finished seventh in the ASL with 22 goals in 25 games, also playing for the Newark Skeeters.

“The Phils’ center-forward almost won the game single-handed when he scored two goals and passed to Wardrop a third,” according to The Boston Globe account. For the deciding goal, Wall outmaneuvered Joe Kennaway, who would go on to be Celtic FC’s starting goalkeeper from 1931-39. [Read more…] about Feb. 16, 1929 – Goal-scorers & ‘keepers

Feb. 15, 2011 – Revolution sign Argentinian defender Franco Coria

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Franco Coria paired with A.J. Soares in central defense for the New England Revolution season-opener, a 1-1 draw with the LA Galaxy at The Home Depot Center. Coria went on to play 17 games (14 starts), often in a makeshift lineup.

Coria, from Los Toldos (Evita Peron’s hometown), had been playing for Chacarita Juniors, and later started for Sarmiento in Argentina’s first division.

Feb. 15, 1925 – Fall River 3×0 J&P Coats [Read more…] about Feb. 15, 2011 – Revolution sign Argentinian defender Franco Coria

Feb. 14, 1926 – ‘Great Soccer in the Rain at Tiverton, R.I.’

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The U.S. Open Cup (the National Cup then), and American Soccer League games, were conducted through the winter months in the early part of the century. And supporters showed up (and stayed), despite the weather.

On this day, the Boston Wonderworkers held the Fall River Marksmen to a 1-1 draw at Mark’s Stadium.

The subhead in The Boston Globe read:

‘Crowd of 7000 at Game, a League Thriller’

The opening graph noted: “The ground was clear of snow and ice and the teams got away with a bang.” [Read more…] about Feb. 14, 1926 – ‘Great Soccer in the Rain at Tiverton, R.I.’

Feb. 13, 2012 – Revolution acquire Saër Sène on free transfer from Bayern Munich

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Saër Sène made one of Gillette Stadium’s most spectacular debuts, scoring 28 seconds into his first match. The goal gave the Revolution  a 1-0 win over the Portland Timbers on March 24, 2012, their first victory under coach Jay Heaps. Sène totaled 11 goals in 23 games during the 2012 season, and finished with 17 goals in three Revolution seasons, his career cut short by injury.

Sène, whose father, Oumar, played for Paris Saint-Germain, was with  Bayern Munich II from 2009-12. Among his coaches was Hermann Gerland, who coached Joe-Max Moore at FC Nurnberg in the ‘90s and is now first team assistant.

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY

Feb. 12, 1928 – The story of Barney Battles

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On this day in 1928, the Providence Clamdiggers and Boston Wonder Workers played to a 0-0 draw. In the first half, former Chelsea FC center forward Bill Finlayson hit the post and Boston’s Bobby Blair, the American Soccer League’s second-leading scorer (38 goals) the previous season, missed an open net . The Boston Globe story notes Providence goalkeeper Joe Kennaway, who would go on to play for Celtic FC, “fell prone in the mud,” but Blair “hurried his boot and as a result shot clear over the bar.” Blair “rocked the upright with a fine drive” late in the game. In the final two minutes, Boston’s Johnny Ballantyne (Partick Thistle, Queen’s Park Rangers) and Providence’s Jimmy Bardell were ejected for fighting. [Read more…] about Feb. 12, 1928 – The story of Barney Battles

Feb. 11, 2011 – Revolution acquire SS Lazio midfielder Ousmane Dabo

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Not many players in Revolution history displayed greater composure in midfield than Ousmane Dabo, though not enough people had a chance to see him demonstrate his ability in New England. When Dabo was 21, he was transferred from Rennes to Inter for 9 million euros. A 31-year-old Roberto Baggio (2.5m euros) and a 19-year-old Andrea Pirlo (2m euros) were among Inter’s midfield newcomers that year. Dabo became a valuable journeyman holding midfielder, learning the trade with several Serie A clubs, winning Coppa Italia twice, plus the 2003 Confederations Cup with France. Dabo also made a stop at Manchester City, where he played under Stuart Pearce and also absorbed a major cheap shot from teammate Joey Barton during a training session.

[Read more…] about Feb. 11, 2011 – Revolution acquire SS Lazio midfielder Ousmane Dabo