Frank Dell'Apa

FIFA World Cup

May 27, 1934 – Aldo (Buff) Donelli scores only goal for U.S. in World Cup opener

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Billy Gonsalves pushed for Buff Donelli to be included in the U.S. national team, and Donelli scored every goal for the U.S. in a 4-2 victory over Mexico in a playoff match in Rome May 24, 1934. Three days later, Italy took a 3-0 halftime lead before Donelli’s 57th-minute conversion.

It seemed strange that FIFA would require two CONCACAF teams to travel to Italy to contest a play-in match, especially since a Trans-Atlantic voyage involved several weeks. If the U.S.-Mexico game had been considered part of the World Cup, Donelli would have tied with Czechoslovakia’s Oldrich Nejedly for the Golden Boot with five goals. [Read more…] about May 27, 1934 – Aldo (Buff) Donelli scores only goal for U.S. in World Cup opener

May 26, 2007 – Bolivia 1:1 Ireland at Gillette Stadium (Att.: 13,156)

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The Republic of Ireland national team’s rise coincided with Boston’s bid to become a 1994 World Cup venue. Ireland support was strong for the state’s first full international as the Republic and U.S. played to a 1-1 draw at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 51,273) June 1, 1991. Ireland returned for a 2-0 victory over Portugal in the ’92 U.S. Cup, one of the goals a Steve Staunton “Olimpico” over Vitor Baia. But that would be the team’s only victory in Foxborough. Ireland has a 1W-2L-3D all-time record at Foxboro/Gillette stadiums. [Read more…] about May 26, 2007 – Bolivia 1:1 Ireland at Gillette Stadium (Att.: 13,156)

May 21, 1950 – Ponta Delgada wins U.S. Amateur Cup

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Ponta Delgada SC won the U.S. Amateur Cup for the fourth time in five years. Ponta Delgada became the first team to win three successive U.S. Amateur Cup titles (1946-48), then lost to eventual champion Elizabeth (N.J.) SC in the 1949 tournament. Ponta Delgada was the first to capture the U.S. Amateur/Open Cup double in 1947, and this time came close, reaching the 1950 U.S. Open Cup final. [Read more…] about May 21, 1950 – Ponta Delgada wins U.S. Amateur Cup

May 19, 2002 – U.S. 0:2 Netherlands, CMGI (Gillette) initial international (Att.: 36,778)

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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 U.S. had a 7W-0L-3D record in Foxborough, all the games played at Foxboro Stadium. [Read more…] about May 19, 2002 – U.S. 0:2 Netherlands, CMGI (Gillette) initial international (Att.: 36,778)

May 17, 1950 – Manchester United’s first New England appearance

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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 with a chance to equalize. In the final minutes, Johnnie Downie scored off a pass from inside left Charlie Mitten, considered the match’s top performer. Mitten went on to sign with Independiente Santa Fe in Colombia, earning a ban from British football and the nickname “The Bogota Bandit.” The only Manchester United player who competed in this game to go on to the ’50 World Cup was Henry Cockburn, who was not in the England lineup against the U.S. [Read more…] about May 17, 1950 – Manchester United’s first New England appearance

May 12, 1935 – St. Louis Central Breweries 1:3 (7:6) Pawtucket Rangers, U.S. Open Cup final at Newark School Stadium (Att. 2,000)

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According to The Boston Globe, the National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) final had been set as a best-of-three series, the title going to the first team to win twice. The Centrals had taken a 5-2 home victory and the teams had played to a 1-1 tie in Pawtucket. But on May 11, 1935, the day before the match, the U.S. Football Association decreed total goals would decide the winner. [Read more…] about May 12, 1935 – St. Louis Central Breweries 1:3 (7:6) Pawtucket Rangers, U.S. Open Cup final at Newark School Stadium (Att. 2,000)

April 22, 1950 – St. Louis Simpkins Ford 2:0 Ponta Delgada SC. U.S. Open Cup final first leg

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Ponta Delgada, which won one of its six U.S. Amateur Cup titles in 1950, would fall in the National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) final after a 1-1 return leg draw in North Tiverton, R.I., May 7. Ponta Delgada won one U.S. Open Cup title, in 1947 (when it also won the U.S. Amateur Cup). [Read more…] about April 22, 1950 – St. Louis Simpkins Ford 2:0 Ponta Delgada SC. U.S. Open Cup final first leg

April 20, 1997 – Record 57,047 crowd for Dos a Dos

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Carlos Hermosillo blocked a Kasey Keller attempted clearance into the net 38 seconds into the game, fastest goal in Foxboro Stadium history. Then, dos a dos was considered a very positive result for the U.S. national team, but the most significant figure associated with this match was the crowd total: 57,407 (more than 17,000 more than the previous high for a U.S. home World Cup Qualifier).

Mexico coach Bora Milutinovic took credit for encouraging Hermosillo to pressure Keller on clearances, the strategy paying off as the “early goal silenced the crowd of 57,407.” Milutinovic wore a Soccer America magazine scarf honoring him as the best U.S. national team coach in the last 25 years. The U.S. scored as Eddie Pope headed in a free kick (35th minute), the Luis Hernandez chipped Keller (54th), and Nicolas Ramirez surrendered an own goal by heading an Earnie Stewart cross (74th). Hernandez earned a late caution for tripping the New England Revolution’s Alexi Lalas.

Foxborough used to be the go-to site for the USMNT, which went unbeaten (7-0-3) at Foxboro Stadium from 1991-2001. The USMNT has a combined 5-0-1 record in World Cup Qualifiers at Foxboro/Gillette.

U.S. 2:2 Mexico, First WCQ at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 57,407).

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY

April 19, 1927 – Boston SC 3:2 Uruguay, Malden High School Field (Att. 7,000)

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The game was interrupted by a fight shortly after the Boston team took the lead on a McArthur penalty kick past Uruguayan goalkeeper Mazzalli with 10 minutes remaining. “A regular riot” ensued, according to George M. Collins’ report in the Boston Globe. “It was a hot afternoon and the hot temperaments of the Olympic champions became pronounced as the game progressed. The climax came when Cea deliberately kicked McIntyre and then tried to slam the Boston captain.” [Read more…] about April 19, 1927 – Boston SC 3:2 Uruguay, Malden High School Field (Att. 7,000)

April 11, 1934 – U.S. Soccer Squad of 18 Selected – for World Cup

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The U.S. team for 1934 World Cup had a strong New England influence, including Eddie Czerkiewicz, Walter Dick, Tommy Florie, Joe Martinelli (Pawtucket Rangers); Billy Gonsalves and Werner “Scotty” Nilsen (Stix, Baer & Fuller); Tom Lynch (Brooklyn Celtics). Also listed was A. Donelli (Curry FC, Pittsburgh). [Read more…] about April 11, 1934 – U.S. Soccer Squad of 18 Selected – for World Cup