Andy Straden scored on a 15th-minute penalty kick as the U.S. defeated Estonia for its first victory in the Olympics. The U.S. was then eliminated with a 3-0 loss to eventual champion Uruguay, the clash providing a connection between the countries, leading to the Uruguayans making a 1927 tour that included a stop in Boston. [Read more…] about May 25, 1924 – First U.S. win in Olympic soccer
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
Peter Vermes scored 15 seconds into the second half in a U.S. preparation match before the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Tony Meola saved an Aleksandar Dordevic free kick as Partizan played without three Yugoslavia national teamers, including starting defender Predrag Spasic. [Read more…] about May 20, 1990 – U.S. 1:0 Partizan Belgrade at Yale Bowl, New Haven, Conn. (Att.: 30,644)
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)
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)
Mike Masters played basketball and soccer at Williams College, teaming with future New England Revolution defender Dan Calichman (Toronto FC assistant coach) and goalkeeper Rob Blanck (Navy women’s team assistant to former Harvard assistant Carin Jennings Gabarra) on Mike Russo’s soccer team. Masters then went on to perform for the Albany Capitals and San Francisco Blackhawks, before moving to England on a free transfer in January of 1992. [Read more…] about May 10, 1992 – Mike Masters scores first goal by U.S. player at Wembley
Fore River’s Jack Kershaw, who had been expected to be a reserve, because of an ankle injury, scored eight minutes before halftime for Fore River. Marre and Dunn countered in the second half.
May 9, 1920 – St. Louis Ben Millers 2:1 Fore River SC at Federal League Baseball Park (Att.: 12,000)
Fore River hoped to capitalize on tactical savvy and technique, plus the fact the St. Louis teams “are used to playing only 60-minute games,” according to The Boston Globe. [Read more…] about May 9, 1920 – Fore River SC falls in U.S. Open Cup final
The Boston Globe listed attendance at 10,000, “the biggest crowd of people to ever watch a soccer game in the Boston area.” Several sources who were at the game as players or spectators are convinced the crowd was greater than 10,000. My primary source is Frank Mirisola, a South Boston businessman and former Boston SC player/long-time supervisor of referees for the Boston Public Schools league. Mirisola said he “saw the ticket receipts and it was 15,000 … it wasn’t quite full.” Everett Memorial Stadium held 18,000 on bleacher seats, according to Sal LoGrasso, a long-time Everett resident and former Boston SC and Boston Minutemen defender. [Read more…] about May 8, 1964 – Liverpool FC draws a (15,000) crowd in Boston
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
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