May 20, 1990 – U.S. 1:0 Partizan Belgrade at Yale Bowl, New Haven, Conn. (Att.: 30,644)
Peter Vermes scored 15 seconds into the second half in a U.S. preparation match before the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Tony Meola saved an Aleksandar Dordevic free kick as Partizan played without three Yugoslavia national teamers, including starting defender Predrag Spasic.
May 19, 2002 – U.S. 0:2 Netherlands, CMGI (Gillette) initial international (Att.: 36,778)
The U.S. faltered in its 2002 World Cup sendoff game in a stadium that had opened eight days earlier, with scaled-down seating. Roy Makaay (45th minute) and Andy van der Meyde (76th) scored and Ronald Waterreus made stops on Eddie Pope, Landon Donovan, John O’Brien, Cobi Jones and Claudio Reyna. Before this match, the […]
May 18, 1925 – American Soccer League accepted as full member of United States FA
According to an Associated Press story, George M. Collins “declares” the USFA would “have to accept all other professional bodies on equal footing,” during the 12th annual meeting of the group in New York. Collins, a Boston Globe columnist, representing the Massachusetts and New Hampshire Association, was referring to recognition for the two professional leagues […]
May 17, 1950 – Manchester United’s first New England appearance
The New England All-Stars essentially consisted of the Ponta Delgada SC team, including Ed Souza and John Souza, who would go on to play for the U.S. in the World Cup a few weeks later. In this game, Manchester United went ahead on a 14th-minute Tom Bogan goal. Ed Souza missed a 79th-minute penalty kick […]
May 16, 1914 – First U.S. Open Cup Final in Pawtucket, R.I. (Att.: 7,000)
This event kicked off the U.S. Open Cup, then called the National Challenge Cup, which has become the most enduring of U.S. team sporting competitions, in terms of continuity and longevity. The tournament has been held annually through epidemics, labor disputes, wars. The U.S. Open Cup is the world’s second longest continuously-operating football association cup […]
May 15, 1967 – Sean Thomas introduced as Boston Shamrock Rovers coach
Sean Thomas was considered among the Republic of Ireland’s top coaches, having guided Shamrock Rovers the 1964 League of Ireland title. Thomas had a reputation for finding talent, once bringing Liam Neeson (yes, the actor) in for Bohemians to play in a match against Shamrock Rovers.