Frank Dell'Apa

Selecao Brasil

Sept. 12, 2007 – Brazil 3:1 Mexico (Att.: 67,584, Gillette Stadium’s largest soccer crowd)

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Brazil supporters greatly outnumbered Mexican as Gillette was scaled to 67,500, plus a standing-room section used for Patriots games. By game day, 65,000 tickets had been sold, and a 4,000 walkup was expected for the 8:30 p.m. kickoff. But organizers underestimated interest, and traffic enforcement struggled to accommodate the Wednesday night event. Goals: Kleber 45th, Kaká 79th, Afonso 86th; Juan Carlos Cacho (43’). Red-carded: Elano 82’, Dunga 91’. [Read more…] about Sept. 12, 2007 – Brazil 3:1 Mexico (Att.: 67,584, Gillette Stadium’s largest soccer crowd)

Sept. 10, 2013 – Brazil 3:1 Portugal, int’l. friendly, Gillette Stadium (Att.: 62,310)

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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)

Sept. 8, 2015 – U.S. 1:4 Brazil, Gillette Stadium (Att.: 29,308)

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Lowest crowd total for Brazil’s five appearances (3W-2L-0D) at Gillette Stadium. The U.S. lost for the second successive time in Foxborough, its record dropping to 10W-3L-2D at Gillette and 17W-3L-5D in Foxborough since 1991. Goals: D. Williams; Hulk, Neymar (2, 1 PK), Rafinha. [Read more…] about Sept. 8, 2015 – U.S. 1:4 Brazil, Gillette Stadium (Att.: 29,308)

Aug. 10, 1930 – Sao Paulo FC 5:3 U.S., Chácara da Floresta, Brazil

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Friendly match duel between Sao Paulo’s Arthur Friedenreich and Fall River’s Billy Gonsalves, the U.S. visiting Brazil as part of a post-World Cup tour. Friedenreich would score more than 1,200 goals (officially listed at 1,329 goals), concluding his career with Flamengo in 1935. Gonsalves totaled an estimated 1,000 goals, retiring in 1952. [Read more…] about Aug. 10, 1930 – Sao Paulo FC 5:3 U.S., Chácara da Floresta, Brazil

June 24, 1972 – Boston Astros prepare for Pele’

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When Lowell’s John Bertos started the Astros in the mid-1960s, he acted as owner, coach and goalkeeper. Bertos had to be resourceful, as the team moved from Fall River, to Boston to Worcester, competing in the American Soccer League from 1969 until 1975, when the team finished as co-champion of the league. Bertos brought in talented Brazilian players, such as Decio Brito, a former Pelé teammate at Santos FC and brother of Seleçāo star Brito. Bertos, whose son, Mike, was a standout at Boston University, went on to coach Lowell High School’s soccer team in the ‘80s. [Read more…] about June 24, 1972 – Boston Astros prepare for Pele’