Frank Dell'Apa

AC Milan

Boston’s history with Santos & the Seleção

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Brazilian teams have been visiting the Boston area since Pelé led Santos FC on a visit to Fenway Park nearly 50 years ago. The match marked a milestone in modern soccer promotion for the area, attracting 18,431 on July 9, 1968, indicating soccer could be a viable professional sport in Boston, after decades of the sport having been shunted aside.

Santos’ 7-1 victory over the Boston Beacons also attracted mainstream media attention, which was not easy to do. Prominent bylines included Peter Gammons, Leigh Montville, Marvin Pave, Bob Sales. The stories were complimentary about Santos’ performance, Pelé earning plenty of praise. And nearly every story made the same factual error, stating Santos had twice won the World Cup. Remarkably, at that time, even the best and brightest of mainstream journalism had difficulty distinguishing between club and country competitions.

[Read more…] about Boston’s history with Santos & the Seleção

July 24, 2005 – Chelsea 1:0 Milan at Gillette Stadium (Att.: 26,208)

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Chelsea improved its record in Boston area games to 2W-1L-0D in games since 1967, chief executive Peter Kenyon promising a Blues’ return. Milan, which had lost to Liverpool in the 2005 Champions League final, had five players (Gennaro Gattuso, Alessandro Nesta, Andrea Pirlo – plus Alberto Gilardino and Filippo Inzaghi, who sat out the game against Chelsea) who would go on to win the 2006 World Cup with Italy. [Read more…] about July 24, 2005 – Chelsea 1:0 Milan at Gillette Stadium (Att.: 26,208)

June 17, 1970 – Santos FC 1:0 AC Milan, Everett Stadium (Att.: 18,000 est.)

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The Santos-Milan game was played in a tense atmosphere, as spectators were also tuned in to shortwave radio reports of the Italy v West Germany World Cup semifinal match being contested in Mexico City. Both teams were missing World Cup players, but most of the starters were available for this game. [Read more…] about June 17, 1970 – Santos FC 1:0 AC Milan, Everett Stadium (Att.: 18,000 est.)

George Weah “The Peacemaker” from 1996

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By Frank Dell’Apa

Globe Staff

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Peace no longer exists in the world of George Manneh Ousman Weah. But Weah is a man of peace, and even men of peace must fight battles.

Weah, 29, is Africa’s most famous athlete and probably the most recognizable African after Nelson Mandela. But unlike Mandela’s South Africa, Weah’s Liberia appears far from solving the brutal violence which shapes everyday life. [Read more…] about George Weah “The Peacemaker” from 1996

Aug. 4, 2012 – Milan 3:1 Olimpia at Gillette Stadium (Att.: 17,592)

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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)

July 26, 2009 – Inter 2:0 Milan at Gillette Stadium (Att.: 42,531), city rivals in rare meeting outside Milan

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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

May 31, 1992 – Italy 0:0 Portugal, U.S. Cup at Yale Bowl (Att.: 38,833)

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The Azzurri had their first look at the New England area, and would return two years later for World Cup second round and quarterfinal matches.

This game was played in a rainstorm and organizers had had to put things together quickly. I recall FIGC president Antonio Mattarese entering the press box and taking notice of water dripping onto the cold cuts table of the pre-game “spread.” Pretty certain questions were raised about planning for the ’94 World Cup. [Read more…] about May 31, 1992 – Italy 0:0 Portugal, U.S. Cup at Yale Bowl (Att.: 38,833)