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)
New England is among the few areas of the country where Lusophone influence is stronger than Hispanic. Organizers began capitalizing by staging a Brazil v Mexico friendly at Gillette Stadium in 2007, the Mexican players expressing surprise when their supporters were outnumbered. [Read more…] about Sept. 10, 2013 – Brazil 3:1 Portugal at Gillette Stadium (Att.: 62,310, third-largest soccer crowd in Mass. history)
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
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)