The Boston Beacons started their only NASL season on the road. The Beacons’ home-opener produced a 3-0 win over the Detroit Cougars at Fenway Park on April 23, 1968. Note: Cardinal Cushing “threw out the first ball” and Gov. Volpe was in attendance (The Boston Globe) [Read more…] about Jan. 22, 1968 – Boston Beacons’ announce team to open NASL season at Fenway Park
Pre-game ceremonies involved former Benfica star Eusebio, who played for the Rhode Island Oceaneers and Boston Minutemen in the ‘70s, and Pelé. This was the third-largest soccer crowd in Mass. history – four of the top seven Gillette soccer crowds have involved Brazil or Portugal national teams. Goals: Thiago Silva (24’), Neymar (36’) and Jô (50’); Raul Meireles (18’). [Read more…] about Sept. 10, 2013 – Brazil 3:1 Portugal, int’l. friendly, Gillette Stadium (Att.: 62,310)
Toronto clinches second place and Boston Minutemen last place in NASL Northern Division, with one game remaining. Toronto, which goes on to win 1976 Soccer Bowl title, includes former Minutemen Eusebio and Wolfgang Suhnholz. Goals: Eusebio 4, Ivan Lukacevic 2; Sal Lo Grasso, Tom Walsh. [Read more…] about Aug. 11, 1976 – Toronto Metros-Croatia 6:2 Boston Minutemen (Att.: 5,545)
Eusebio scored twice for Benfica against Sporting in a rematch of the Taça de Portugal in a Sunday afternoon exhibition. Marinho’s penalty kick opened the scoring (6’). Eusebio equalized (43’) and broke the deadlock (80’), then Fernando Peres converted (84’). [Read more…] about July 16, 1972 – SL Benfica 2:2 Sporting CP. First soccer game at Schaefer (Foxboro) Stadium (Att.: 24,396*)
About 20,000 fans packed Nickerson Field, the crowd storming the pitch after a Pelé goal for the New York Cosmos was disallowed in the June 20, 1975 match. [Read more…] about July 1, 1975 – NASL commissioner Phil Woosnam upholds New York Cosmos’ protest of June 20 game because of crowd problems
Eusebio and Pelé met in a competitive match for the first time since the 1966 World Cup as the Boston Minutemen took a 2-1 extra time win over the New York Cosmos. [Read more…] about June 20, 1975 – Boston Minutemen 2:1 (aet) New York Cosmos, Nickerson Field (Att.: 20,000 est.)
Medford, Mass., businessman Victor Baptista commissioned the Eusebio statue that stands outside Benfica’s Estadio da Luz in Lisbon. Another casting of the Eusebio statue was installed at Gillette Stadium until being moved to Lusitano Stadium in Ludlow, Mass., in 2015.
Jan. 25, 1942 – Eusebio da Silva Ferreira born in Lourenço Marques, Mozambique
Jan. 25, 1925 – Fall River 3:2 [aet] Providence, ASL Cup first round match (Att.: 7,331)
Goals: Morley, McPherson (PK), McGowan; Best, Abdallah
Brooklyn Wanderers 1:2 New Bedford, ASL Cup match
Goals: Jimmy Montgomerie (PK), Jock Marshall (og); Marshall
Chris Aduama photos
NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
The Boston Beacons started their only NASL season on the road, their home-opener a 3-0 win over the Detroit Cougars at Fenway Park on April 23, 1968. Note: Cardinal Cushing “threw out the first ball” and Gov. Volpe was in attendance, according to Leigh Montville’s story in The Boston Globe. [Read more…] about Jan. 22, 1968 – Boston Beacons’ GM Joe McKenney announces team will open season at Fenway Park on March 31, 1968
In this Soccer Notes column in Jan. 3, 1993 editions of The Boston Globe, there were plenty of subjects covered with Boston connections:
A statue dedicated to Eusebio, “the most famous athlete ever to compete for a Boston team,” was being unveiled by Medford’s Victor Baptista and the Sports Museum of New England [Read more…] about Where are they now? Burns, Calichman, Eusebio statue, Friedel, Palhinha, Wynalda
Eusebio da Silva Ferreira emerged on the international scene as Benfica won the 1961 and ’62 Champions Cup. Eusebio, born in Lourenço Marques (Maputo), Mozambique, won the Ballon D’Or as Europe’s top player in 1965 and led Portugal to a third-place finish in the 1966 World Cup. [Read more…] about Nov. 22, 2015 – Eusebio inducted into New England Soccer Hall of Fame