Frank Dell'Apa

U.S. Men's National Team

May 6, 1916 – A U.S. OPEN CUP RIVALRY IS BORN

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May 6, 1916 – Bethlehem Steel 1:0 Fall River Rovers at Coats Field (Att.: 15,000)

The rivalry between Bethlehem Steel Company FC and Fall River Rovers FC kicked off in the 1916 National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) final. The teams represented two of the country’s major industrial centers, the Bethlehem team composed of European imports, known for their precision passing game, and the Rovers a mostly native-born team relying more on effort than skill. [Read more…] about May 6, 1916 – A U.S. OPEN CUP RIVALRY IS BORN

May 4, 1974 – Dallas Tornado 0:0 Boston Minutemen at Texas Stadium (Att.: 9,124). First Minutemen game in inaugural NASL season

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The Boston Minutemen, guided by former Yale coach Hubert Vogelsinger, reached the semifinals of the NASL playoffs in their first year. The roster included several internationals and English First Division players. Ade Coker and Carlos Metidieri performed for the U.S. national team. The back row of this team photo includes Steve Twellman, uncle of future New England Revolution all-time leading scorer Taylor Twellman. [Read more…] about May 4, 1974 – Dallas Tornado 0:0 Boston Minutemen at Texas Stadium (Att.: 9,124). First Minutemen game in inaugural NASL season

April 30, 1939 – Long before Cristiano Ronaldo, there was Billy Gonsalves

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Long before Cristiano Ronaldo, Adelino (Billy) Gonsalves was considered among the most proficient players of Madeira Island descent. Gonsalves, born in Portsmouth, R.I., in 1908, holds the record by winning eight U.S. Open Cup championships, six in succession (1930-35) with three clubs. Gonsalves won his first title with Fall River Marksmen at the age of 22 and his last with Brooklyn Hispano at 35 in 1944.

Gonsalves competed for teams in several cities, but he might not have had to leave St. Louis to play for Chicago-based Manhattan Beer. Gonsalves left Fall River after the demise of the ASL and the Marksmen, performing for St. Louis Central Breweries, Beltmar Drug and South Side Radio in the “Mound City” from 1933-38. The St. Louis Soccer League invited Chicago teams to participate in the league, and Gonsalves joined Manhattan Beer for the 1938 and ’39 seasons. Gonsalves teamed with Spain-born Fabri Salcedo to lead the attack for the Brewers, and they continued to combine with Brooklyn Hispano in the ‘40s.

April 30, 1939 – Chicago Manhattan Beer 0:1 St. Mary’s Celtic (Brooklyn)

Gonsalves scored Manhattan Beer’s only goal in the two-game series on a penalty kick. Duke Nanoski converted in the away leg and added two goals in St. Mary’s Celtic’s 4-1 win in the return leg at Starlight Park in the Bronx May 7, 1939. Rudolf Kuntner, a U.S. Men’s National Team member who became stage manager at the Metropolitan Opera, added a penalty kick goal in the second leg. According to a Dec. 19, 1971 New York Times review of Tristan und Isolde, Kuntner “… was responsible for the lighting effects. Bravo.” The Met used the stage lighting setup for productions in the ‘80s, also.

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY

April 28, 1917 – Turning handsprings

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April 28, 1917 – New Bedford Celtics 2:1 Fore River, Southern New England series

Andy Stradan gave Fore River the lead, then McDavitt and Croasdale countered for the Celtics. Stradan (also spelled Straden) went on to play for the U.S., converting a penalty kick in a 1-0 win over Estonia in the 1924 Olympics. The Fore River lineup also included center half Page, who, a year later, might have been among the first players to make a gymnastic goal commemoration. [Read more…] about April 28, 1917 – Turning handsprings

April 24, 1916 – Disston AA 0:1 Fall River Rovers, National Challenge Cup semifinal

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Tommy Swords’ 16th-minute goal made the difference for Fall River Rovers in the National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) played in the Tacony section of Philadelphia. Less than four months later, Swords would become the first captain of the U.S. Men’s National Team on a visit to Scandinavia. Swords, a Fall River, Mass., native, was referred to as “formerly halfback of the Hibernians of this city (Philadelphia).” The result qualified the Rovers to meet Bethlehem Steel for “the first real National championship contest in this country” in Pawtucket, R.I., May 6, according to The Boston Globe story. [Read more…] about April 24, 1916 – Disston AA 0:1 Fall River Rovers, National Challenge Cup semifinal

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 13, 1996 – New England Revolution’s first game

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Tampa Bay Mutiny 3:2 Revolution at Tampa Stadium (Att.: 26,473)

Rob Ukrop gave the Revolution a 20th-minute lead, finishing a Welton cross, Alexi Lalas starting the sequence from central defense. The Mutiny scored on three set pieces, Revolution defender Mike Burns disputing the foul that led to the third goal, saying “the referee (Zimmerman Boulos) knows he made a mistake.” Roy Lassiter’s 25th-minute goal tied the score, the first of his 27 for the season, which remains an MLS record. Ivan McKinley, who would play for the Revolution from 1997-2000, broke the deadlock early in the second half, and U.S. national team defender Steve Pittman converted off a Carlos Valderrama assist for a 3-1 lead, before Ukrop cut the deficit in the 70th minute. Ukrop would not score another goal for the Revolution, and was waived after playing nine games as the team set up roster space for acquiring Joe-Max Moore. [Read more…] about April 13, 1996 – New England Revolution’s first game

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

March 31, 1917 — Fall River Rovers 2:0 Pan-Americans

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Goals from Underwood and Swords give Fall River Rovers a 2-0 win over the Pan-Americans before a 2,000 crowd. Less than two months later, the Rovers would go on to become the first New England team to win the U.S. Open Cup. Thomas Swords, a Fall River native who had captained the U.S. national team in its first game on a tour to Sweden in 1916, scored the deciding goal in a 1-0 victory over Bethlehem Steel for the U.S. Open Cup title in Pawtucket, R.I., on May 5, 1917.

Also on March 31, 1917: United Shoe MAA 10:0 Haverhill at McKay Street Grounds in Beverly (Alex Black 7 goals, Hollings 3); New Bedford 2:1 Compton (New Bedford maintained Southern New England League lead as Shaw scored twice).

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY