This was the opener of a doubleheader, Milan capturing its first victory in four Boston-area appearances (1W-3L-0D). Robinho (24th minute) and Antonio Nocerino (37th and 43rd) scored for Milan. Substitute Jose Escalante, 17, converted a 72nd-minute goal, a minute after entering the match, for Olimpia. Escalante joined the Houston Dynamo in 2016 and is now with the Rio Grande Valley Toros. [Read more…] about Aug. 4, 2012 – Milan 3:1 Olimpia at Gillette Stadium (Att.: 17,592)
Kristine Lilly made her international debut as a 16-year-old junior at Wilton (Conn.) High School, along with Mia Hamm (15 years, 140 days). Just more than a week later, Lilly scored her first goal. This was a two-game visit to China – Lilly played her first game in the U.S. in 1990 and her first match in New England in 1991. [Read more…] about Aug. 3, 1987 – Kristine Lilly (b. July 22, 1971) earns first cap
Jeff Larentowicz converted the clincher as the Revolution won a penalty kick shootout for the first time in three tries. The Revolution had lost on PKs to the Rhinos in the 2004 U.S. Open Cup and D.C. United in the 2004 Eastern Conference finals. [Read more…] about Aug. 2, 2006 – Rochester Rhinos 0:0 (4×5 PKs) Revolution at PAETEC Park (Att.: 9,500)
This was the first title for the U.S. Women’s National Team in a fully-sanctioned FIFA tournament. The 1991 WWC was considered a “World Championship” (not World Cup) and games were played with 40-minute halves. The success of the ’91 event paved the way for the ’95 WWC in Sweden (won by Norway) and inclusion of the women’s game in the Olympics. Women’s football exploded as a spectator sport in the ’96 Games, 16 matches drawing total crowds of nearly 700,000 (64,196 for the semifinals). [Read more…] about Aug. 1, 1996 – U.S. 2:1 China, Olympic Games final at Athens, Ga. (Att.: 76,489)
Both goals were scored by RC Lens’ Francois Brisson, France going on to win the Olympic title. [Read more…] about July 31, 1984 – France 2:1 Norway. Olympic Games first-round match at Harvard Stadium (Att.: 27,832)
The Revolution were showing few signs of being a playoff team, much less an MLS Cup contender, as they entered this match with an eight-game losing streak. Lee Nguyen (10th minute) opened the scoring with a deflected shot after Charlie Davies flicked on a Kevin Alston throw-in, then converted a free kick (75th). Kelyn Rowe (78th) also scored, the result snapping a four-game home losing streak. [Read more…] about July 30, 2014 – Revolution 3×0 Colorado at Gillette Stadium (Att.: 13,831). Revolution start team record 17-game home unbeaten streak
Kristine Lilly set up Dagney Mellgren for goals in the 25th and 44th minutes as the Breakers (6W-9L-3D, 21 points) pulled within two points of a playoff berth before a capacity crowd. The match had been sold out for a month, partly because of the arrival of the Freedom’s Mia Hamm, whose future husband, Nomar Garciaparra, would hit a home run in a 4-3 Red Sox win over the Chicago White Sox in a game played simultaneously just down Commonwealth Avenue at Fenway Park. [Read more…] about July 29, 2001 – Boston Breakers 2:1 Washington Freedom, WUSA game at Nickerson Field (Att.: 11,681)
Jose Soroa’s eighth-minute finish over Tony DiCicco made the difference as the Astros (6W-2L-1D, 13 points) pulled within three points of the first-place Wildcats (7W-2L-2D, 16 points). [Read more…] about July 28, 1973 – Boston Astros 1:0 Connecticut Wildcats, ASL game at Boston College Alumni Stadium (Att.: 6,414)
The 32.25 million euro transfer of Ronaldinho from Paris Saint-Germain to Barcelona was concluded on July 21, but Ronaldinho was not planning to compete for Barça in the U.S. Promoters insisted Ronaldinho appear in the match, and they had their way as he replaced Oscar Lopez in the second half of a 2-2 draw with Juventus. [Read more…] about July 27, 2003 – Ronaldinho makes Barcelona debut
Diego Milito outmaneuvered Oguchi Onyewu in the fourth minute and finished a Dejan Stankovic square ball in the 75th minute before a record crowd for a friendly match involving club teams in the Boston area. [Read more…] about July 26, 2009 – Inter 2:0 Milan at Gillette Stadium (Att.: 42,531), city rivals in rare meeting outside Milan