Frank Dell'Apa

FIFA World Cup

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

Jan. 24, 1932 – New York Giants 4:2 Bethlehem Steel, National Challenge Cup, Polo Grounds (Att.: 1,500)

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Fall River (Mass.) native Bert Patenaude, who had become the first player to complete a hat trick in the 1930 World Cup at age 20, opened the scoring for the Giants in a National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) second-round match. Goals: Patenaude, Carlson 2, O’Brien; Dick 2.

[Read more…] about Jan. 24, 1932 – New York Giants 4:2 Bethlehem Steel, National Challenge Cup, Polo Grounds (Att.: 1,500)

Jan. 21, 1916 – CAC Fort Andrews Issues Challenge

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“… the soldiers at Fort Andrews have adopted [soccer] as their Winter pastime. There are two elevens playing at the fort. Sgt. Thomas Gavigan is the man who has aroused the men who wear Uncle Sam’s uniform … to interest in the game.” Fort Andrews, on Peddocks Island in Boston Harbor, also had teams in baseball, basketball and football, and participated in tug of war competitions. [Read more…] about Jan. 21, 1916 – CAC Fort Andrews Issues Challenge

Jan. 11, 1931 – Fall River 1:1 New Bedford Whalers, National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) (Att.: 1,800)

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A few months after playing for the U.S. in the 1930 World Cup, Billy Gonsalves and Bert Patenaude teamed up with Fall River against national team captain Tommy Florie of the New Bedford Whalers.

“Patenaude, usually an accurate kicker, threw away an easy opportunity in front of the goal with less than two minutes to play. He evaded the defense, drew the goalie from the cage and then booted wild.” (The Boston Globe) [Read more…] about Jan. 11, 1931 – Fall River 1:1 New Bedford Whalers, National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) (Att.: 1,800)

Dec. 30, 1928 – Fall River Marksmen 2:0 (4:2) Boston SC, ASL Challenge Cup first round return leg

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Alex McNab opened the scoring and 19-year-old Bert Patenaude added the second goal for the Fall River Marksmen. Patenaude replaced Milton Gavin, a former Lusitania Recreation center forward; Patenaude joined Lusitania later in his career, after teaming with 20-year-old Billy Gonsalves (also a former Lusitania Recreation star) to lead the U.S. in the first World Cup in Uruguay in 1930. [Read more…] about Dec. 30, 1928 – Fall River Marksmen 2:0 (4:2) Boston SC, ASL Challenge Cup first round return leg

Dec. 13, 1931 – New York Giants 6:1 Pawtucket, ASL game at Polo Grounds (Att.: 1,000)

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Bert Patenaude led the way with five goals for the New York Giants. Patenaude, who completed the World Cup’s first hat trick in a 3-0 U.S. win over Belgium, “scor[ed] five brilliant goals” and assisted on O’Brien’s finish “before about 1,000 people, who braved a drenching rain through 90 minutes of play.” (The Boston Globe) [Read more…] about Dec. 13, 1931 – New York Giants 6:1 Pawtucket, ASL game at Polo Grounds (Att.: 1,000)

Dec. 3, 1939 – Lusitania Recreation 4:1 Pawtucket, National Open Cup (U.S. Open Cup) second round game, Lusitania Stadium, Cambridge, Mass. (Att.: 2,500)

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This was a matchup of Lusitania center forward Bert Patenaude and Pawtucket’s Tommy Florie, teammates on the U.S. team that reached the 1930 World Cup semifinals. Patenaude, a 20-year-old when he became the first to complete a hat trick in the World Cup, twice headed off the crossbar. Lusitania was eliminated by Brookhattan in the quarterfinals. Goals: Slicer (PK), Rebello, Silvia, Brinkworth; Florie. [Read more…] about Dec. 3, 1939 – Lusitania Recreation 4:1 Pawtucket, National Open Cup (U.S. Open Cup) second round game, Lusitania Stadium, Cambridge, Mass. (Att.: 2,500)

Nov. 19, 1989 – Trinidad & Tobago 0:1 U.S., WCQ, National Stadium, Port of Spain (Att.: 35,000)

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The U.S. (4W-1L-3D, 11 points) vaulted past Trinidad & Tobago into second place on the final day of CONCACAF qualifying for the 1990 World Cup. Goal: Caligiuri 30’.

Nov. 19, 1989 – North Carolina 2:0 Colorado College, NCAA Women’s Championship, Raleigh, N.C.

[Read more…] about Nov. 19, 1989 – Trinidad & Tobago 0:1 U.S., WCQ, National Stadium, Port of Spain (Att.: 35,000)

Oct. 10, 2014 – U.S. 1:1 Ecuador, Landon Donovan retirement game, Rentschler Field, East Hartford, Conn. (Att.: 36,265)

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The U.S. trained at Harvard University’s Ohiri Field, but Donovan, cut from the 2014 World Cup roster by coach Jurgen Klinsmann, did not arrive until game day. Donovan played 41 minutes, setting up Mix Diskerud’s goal (5’) and hitting the post. Enner Valencia (88’) equalized and current Revolution winger Cristian Penilla made his Ecuador debut. Donovan totaled 57 goals in 157 appearances for the U.S. [Read more…] about Oct. 10, 2014 – U.S. 1:1 Ecuador, Landon Donovan retirement game, Rentschler Field, East Hartford, Conn. (Att.: 36,265)

Oct. 7, 2001 – U.S. 2:1 Jamaica, final soccer game at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 40,483)

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This was the first time the U.S. had clinched a berth in the World Cup finals in a home match, and the team’s seventh World Cup appearance. Current Revolution coach Brad Friedel was in the U.S. goal and former Revolution star Joe-Max Moore converted in the third minute and on an 81st-minute penalty kick. The U.S. had a 7W-0L-3D record (4-0-1 in World Cup qualifiers) at Foxboro Stadium, demolished in February 2002. Goals: Moore 2 (1 PK); Jamie Lawrence. [Read more…] about Oct. 7, 2001 – U.S. 2:1 Jamaica, final soccer game at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 40,483)