The crowd turned out to be among the most impressive of the World Cup group stage matches at Foxboro Stadium as Bolivia and South Korea went all out in a futile attempt to advance in Group C. [Read more…] about June 23, 1994 – Highest attendance (54,456) for World Cup match at Foxboro Stadium. Bolivia 0:0 South Korea
Three Gabriel Batistuta goals (2’, 44’, 90’) and Diego Maradona’s 60th-minute conversion launched Argentina into a favorite’s role in the tournament. The World Cup kicked off June 17, 1994, and anticipation built for this match, the first of six WC games in New England. Argentina set up camp at Babson College in Wellesley and, apparently, the Selección’s training staff shopped on Tremont Street in Boston, purchasing the dietary supplement containing ephedrine that ended up getting Maradona banned. [Read more…] about June 21, 1994 – Argentina 4:0 Greece, first World Cup game at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 53,644)
The two greatest players of their era, Eusébio da Silva Ferreira and Edson Arantes do Nascimento “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 before an overflow crowd at Boston University’s Nickerson Field. Overflow is the operative word, since the stadium was dangerously oversold, fans standing at field level behind the goals.
Eusébio converted the opening goal on a free kick for the Minutemen, then Pelé scored a disallowed goal (former Harvard goalkeeper Shep Messing deflected a shot over the end line, the ball ricocheting back off spectators), the crowd rushing on to the field. Mark Liveric scored a late equalizer and Wolfgang Suhnholz broke the deadlock in extra time.
The Cosmos protested the game and the result was nullified by NASL commissioner Phil Woosnam on July 1.
Among the best recountings of the game is in Messing’s “The Education of an American Soccer Player.”
The stadium was more than rocking, the stands filled and traffic on Commonwealth Avenue locked up an hour before kickoff.
“It sounds like a soccer crowd in fucking El Salvador,” Messing noted.
The time marked the beginning of the demise of the Minutemen with the start of an SEC investigation into Minutemen owner John Sterge’s petroleum investments in May and the advent of the relaunch of the Cosmos, with the June 10, 1975 signing of Pelé to a $4.5 million contract.
Eusébio and Pelé were near the end of their careers, but both had enough left to lead their teams to championships.
The Minutemen realized this could be their opportunity.
“Any locker room that houses Eusébio should be declared a shrine,” Messing wrote.
Had Sterge been able to maintain the financing, the Minutemen might have made their name on the field. The Minutemen won the NASL’s Northern Division and the Cosmos finished third in 1975. Eusébio and Suhnholz moved to Toronto Metros-Croatia, leading them to the 1976 NASL Soccer Bowl title. Pelé and the Cosmos won the 1977 Soccer Bowl.
June 20, 1975 – Boston Minutemen 2:1 (aet) New York Cosmos at Nickerson Field (Att.: 20,000 est.)
TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
Here’s info on the status of New England Revolution soccer-specific stadium proposal. Talked with Jonathan Kraft, Brian Bilello, Pat Sullivan, others. The story is published in the New England Soccer Journal: http://www.nesoccerjournal.com/nesoccerj_201706/index.html#ne_revolution_keep_dreaming
KEEP DREAMING
The odds of the Revolution – or anyone – building a Boston stadium, soccer-specific or not, are close to zero. That was to be my theme for this column, after having researched local stadium projects from the 1940s through the recent failed proposal for the Bayside Expo site.
But, following an informal interview with Jonathan Kraft, I am modifying my stance. Jonathan seems to be 100 percent certain it will happen, and soon. So, meeting him halfway, I’ll say maybe there is a 50 percent chance of a Boston stadium being realized.
It is difficult to remain optimistic after encountering so many deceptions, obstacles and roadblocks. But if the Krafts are positive about this, you can’t count them out.
[Read more…] about New England Revolution Soccer Specific Stadium: Any bets?
From my Boston Globe report: “The United States performed confidently, with a sense of purpose, and as if the players expected to win against Nigeria before a crowd of 22,578 that included small bands of flag-waving supporter groups from both countries.
Jay Jay Okocha’s eighth-minute goal opened the scoring, then John Harkes equalized with a 10th-minute long-distance blast. Taiwo Wasiu, making his international debut, broke the deadlock with a 19th-minute goal. The U.S. rallied on goals by Marcelo Balboa (45’) and Cobi Jones (87’). [Read more…] about June 11, 1995 – Birth of Sam’s Army, Foxborough, Mass.
This was also the first U.S. win over England since Joe Gaetjens’ goal provided a 1-0 result in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil. “Now we don’t have to talk about 1950 anymore,” U.S. Soccer Federation general secretary Hank Steinbrecher said.
The kickoff was delayed seven minutes because of a lightning storm that also likely reduced the side of the crowd. My story in the Boston Globe noted the weather presented a greater threat to public safety than potential hooligan behavior, which was a major concern in anticipation of the 1994 World Cup. [Read more…] about June 9, 1993 – U.S. 2:0 England, U.S. Cup at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 37,236). First U.S. victory in Foxborough
The Republic of Ireland national team made a strong impact on soccer in New England in the early 1990s, drawing significant crowds and displaying the form that took the team to a berth in the 1988 European Championship and quarterfinals of the 1990 World Cup. [Read more…] about June 8, 1992 – THEY WUZ ROBBED
A wide gulf in talent and tactical acumen resulted in an embarrassing defeat for the U.S. national team against Spain. Santi Cazorla (28’, 41’) and Alvaro Negredo (32’) provided a 3-0 halftime lead and El Niño Torres added a 73rd-minute goal for the Spaniards, who had played once before in Foxborough, sustaining a 2-1 extra time loss to Italy in the World Cup quarterfinals at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 53,400) July 9, 1994. [Read more…] about June 4, 2011 – U.S. 0:4 Spain (Att.: 64,421). Biggest U.S. loss, and their biggest crowd, in Foxborough
Ireland’s Tony Cascarino (57th minute) opened the scoring before Eric Wynalda slipped past Kevin Moran for a 68th-minute equalizer off a Chris Henderson assist as the U.S. Men’s National Team made its Massachusetts debut.
Organizers budgeted for a 30,000 crowd, but a week before the match, stadium manager Brian O’Donovan projected possible 35,000 attendance. The walk-up took officials by surprise, with about 12,000 purchasing tickets at the gate (thousands of tickets were printed on-site), lines stretching toward Rte. 1 throughout the first half. [Read more…] about June 1, 1991 – U.S. 1:1 Ireland at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 51,273). First full international in Massachusetts
Billy Gonsalves scored three goals for the Yankees, who began the season as the Fall River Marksmen, in an upset win over Celtic FC. In fact, the Boston Globe advance story called the team the “Fall River Yankees.”
“Billy Gonsalves, who learned his soccer on the sandlots of East Cambridge and then was grabbed by the old Boston team, was the big works in the game. All he did was score three of the Yankees’ goals and manipulate the ball in such a manner that he completely mystified the famous Celtics at times.” [Read more…] about May 30, 1931 – New York Yankees 4:3 Glasgow Celtic at Fenway Park (Att.: 8,000)